Neuroeconomics
Nome corso: Neuroeconomics
Docente: Nicola Canessa
Prerequisiti
A basic-level knowledge of the main subjects of cognitive neuropsychology is suggested.
Obiettivi formativi
This course aims to provide a concise picture of available evidence in Decision neuroscience, i.e. of the cognitive processes and neural mechanisms underlying different facets of decision-making in the individual and social contexts. The close relationship between neuroeconomics and neuroethics will be addressed in terms of the neural correlates of choices characterized by social and moral, besides individual and economics, valence. The implications of the results provided by these disciplines for neuro-psychiatric and forensic settings will be also discussed.
These goals will be pursued with an interdisciplinary approach aimed to establish connections between theoretical and empirical inputs from distinct but related research fields, such as psychology of judgment and decision-making, experimental economics, neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.
After the course, participants will be expected to be able to:
· discuss in-depth the main trajectories of research in neuroeconomics
· understand and critically examine the data reported in scientific papers relevant to the topics addressed by neuroeconomics
· develop proposals for original studies concerning the different sub-fields of neuroeconomics, which could be pursued with the typical techniques of cognitive neuroscience (neuroimaging, neurostimulation, lesional approach)
Programma e contenuti
· Cognitive neuroscience: aims and research techniques
· At the origin of neuroeconomics: the orbitofrontal cortex and the Somatic marker hypothesis
· The micro-economic bases of Decision theory: expected value and expected utility
· Psychology of judgment and decision-making: Prospect theory
· Neurophysiology of learning and motivation: processing of rewards, punishments and prediction errors in the meso-cortico-limbic dopaminergic pathway
· Anomalies and biases in probabilistic judgment and decision-making
· The neural bases of executive functioning and cognitive control
· The neural bases of anomalies and biases: drives, preferences and cognitive control
· Translational implications of neuroeconomics in neuro-psychiatric domains
· Neuroethics: neural bases of moral choices, and implications for forensic sciences
Metodi didattici
“Frontal” lectures alternating with the drafting of abstracts based on scientific papers provided by the teacher.
Testi di riferimento
Neuroeconomics: Decision Making and the Brain, by Paul W. Glimcher, 2nd Edition; Editors: Paul W. Glimcher Ernst Fehr; eBook ISBN: 9780123914699; Hardcover ISBN: 9780124160088; Imprint: Academic Press, Published Date: 27th September 2013
Additional scientific papers will be provided for in-depth analyses on a voluntary basis.
Modalità verifica apprendimento
Drafting of abstracts based on scientific papers throughout the course; final written exam.
Altre informazioni
After each lecture, slides will be uploaded on google drive and shared with the students.
- Docente: NICOLA CANESSA
- Docente: CLAUDIA GIANELLI