Neuroeconomics
Neuroscience, when combined with economics and psychology, creates new models that help us understand how we make decisions. Our goal is to begin exploring the biological factors that lead to behavioral economic phenomena and answer important questions like: What makes us cooperate even with strangers? Why do we buy lottery tickets knowing we almost certainly will lose our money? In this course, we will examine the neural basis of strategic choice, trust and competition, motivations, neurorepresentations of reward and value, and evolution of irrational economic behavior. Major concepts will be presented with examples from human brain-imaging studies (fMRI, EEG) and animal behavioral models. (BIOL0145 or PSYC0105 or CHEM0103 or equivalent) (open to seniors by approval only)