Behavioral and Brain Sciences



Open Peer Commentary

Game theory can build higher mental processes from lower ones1


George Ainslie a1
a1 116A Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Coatesville, PA 19320. george.ainslie@va.gov www.picoeconomics.com

Article author query
ainslie g   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The question of reductionism is an obstacle to unification. Many behavioral scientists who study the more complex or higher mental functions avoid regarding them as selected by motivation. Game-theoretic models in which complex processes grow from the strategic interaction of elementary reward-seeking processes can overcome the mechanical feel of earlier reward-based models. Three examples are briefly described.

(Published Online April 27 2007)