Articles tagged with Game Theory
A recent study published in The Leadership Quarterly found that power can lead to corruption in leaders, regardless of their initial honesty. The researchers used experimental methods to investigate the effects of power on behavior, and found that individuals who scored lower on honesty were more likely to exhibit corrupt behavior.
Researchers found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a causal role in enabling honest behavior, suggesting a tradeoff between self-interest and integrity. Participants with damaged areas showed less aversion to lying, but still preferred honesty in certain situations.
Researchers used evolutionary game theory models to study information flow in the natural world, finding that arbitrary signals can come to mean something through a natural process. This discovery may help explain how words gain meaning and acquire meaning through biological evolution, social learning, or other adaptive processes.
Robert Wilson, Paul Milgrom, and R. Preston McAfee will receive the Golden Goose Award for their basic research on game theory and auctions that enabled the FCC to auction spectrum licenses in 1994. Their work has resulted in over $60 billion raised for the U.S. Treasury and enabled the proliferation of wireless technologies.
The study analyzed how cooperation among humans evolves across age groups, with younger participants exhibiting more volatile decision-making and a 'conditional cooperator' strategy. In contrast, older adults (over 65) showed increased cooperativeness, suggesting potential benefits for companies by keeping this group engaged.
Researchers used game theory to study tumor cell cooperation and found that within certain ranges of mutation rates, critical transitions occur in energy metabolic strategies. This switch in tactics may make tumors vulnerable to disruption, potentially ideal for clinicians to test new therapies.
A study by researchers at Caltech found that chimpanzees consistently outperformed humans in the Inspection Game, a simple contest drawn from game theory. The chimps' rapid learning and near-optimal play suggest excellent short-term memory as a key factor in their success.
Researchers found that smaller groups of countries are more likely to reach consensus, while side agreements among smaller numbers of participants can actually promote the UN process. The study also highlights the importance of perceived individual threat in maintaining successful negotiations.
Researchers at University of Vienna investigate how voluntary reward funds can help coordinate cooperators in threshold public good games. Their study finds that rewards can lead to high levels of cooperation and even 100% cooperation in certain conditions.
A study by University of Maryland researchers predicts that strong social ties and low mobility enable the evolution of third-party punishment. In contexts with high social constraint, responsible punishers can induce cooperation and benefit the community.
A team of Penn biologists offers a mathematically based explanation for why cooperation and generosity have evolved in nature. Generous strategies, which involve cooperating with opponents but also forgiving defectors, are shown to be the only approaches that resist defectors over the long term.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that evolution punishes selfishness and promotes cooperation. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that cooperators are more likely to survive and thrive in the long term due to their ability to communicate and adapt to different opponents.
Physicist Dr Nicolas Brunner and mathematician Professor Noah Linden discovered a connection between game theory and quantum physics, showing that quantum players can outperform classical players in certain games. This breakthrough opens new avenues for research and potential applications for quantum technologies.
A new study published in EPJ B suggests that specific parameters can help avert economic collapses. By optimizing macro-economic parameters, economists can move an economy around a tipping point, thus averting disaster.
Researchers from UPV/EHU applied Game Theory to calculate motorway toll charges, proposing the Nucleolus method for fairness and equity. This method reduces charges for long-distance travelers and allows for more efficient traffic management.
Research by Adam Meirowitz and Joshua Tucker suggests that protesters may lose motivation to take to the streets if they experience repeated failure or corruption in a new government. The study proposes a dynamic model of protest, taking into account the uncertainty people face when dealing with unfamiliar democratic systems.
Scientists found complex games like chess and Go are hard for humans to master, leading to irrational decision-making. The research has implications for financial markets, where equilibrium theory often fails to predict market behavior accurately.
Research suggests that vendettas can be viable over the long term among group members, despite being costly and damaging to stakeholders. The study found that punishment mechanisms can enhance cooperation in public good games within groups.
Researchers found that individuals prioritize reciprocity over network structure when deciding to cooperate. This challenges traditional theories on cooperation among individuals. The study, published in PNAS, used a social conflict prototype called the Prisoner's Dilemma and involved 1,200 Aragon secondary students.
Cancer researchers employed game theory to study the physics of tumor evolution under stress conditions. They found that modifying their framework accounted for heterogeneous stress patterns, leading to emergent cooperative outcomes between cooperator and cheater cells.
Scientists discovered that bacteria engage in quorum sensing to discuss options for life-or-death situations, deciding between sporing or competency. This communication process has implications for understanding human cell behavior and developing new treatments for diseases.
A recent study published in Political Research Quarterly found that information gleaned from interrogational torture is likely to be unreliable and used too frequently. The study's author, John W. Schiemann, concludes that the use of torture makes it difficult for states to distinguish between real and false confessions.
In a study of hundreds of online auctions, Northwestern University researchers found that all participants use the optimal strategy, making the auction a game of pure chance. The 'bursty' strategy, which combines exploitation and exploration, is used by participants but ultimately leads to no advantage.
A new study suggests that egocentric behavior in children is linked to an immature prefrontal cortex, rather than a lack of understanding of fairness. Researchers found age-related increases in strategic decision-making between ages 6-13 years, with improved impulse control and brain activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that embarrassment can be a positive trait, fostering trust and cooperation in everyday life. Subjects who were more easily embarrassed reported higher levels of monogamy and generosity, indicating a stronger tendency to affiliate with others.
A new network defense tool developed by Heechang Shin uses a game theoretic model called defensive forecasting to detect network intrusions. This approach is more effective than previous methods and provides real-time detection, allowing for quicker response and blocking of intrusions.
A new study by UBC researchers found that both shame and honour can increase cooperation by up to 50%, challenging traditional assumptions about the role of reputation in social interactions. The experiment, which involved over 180 participants, used a public goods game to test the impact of shame and honour on individual behaviour.
A University of Miami economist applied modern-day game theory techniques to examine famous military bluffs and find that bluffing was the optimal strategy in each situation. The study used signaling games to model the legends of Li Guang and Zhuge Liang, finding that uncertainty was key to avoiding confrontation.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed an algorithm that enables computers to anticipate the future and make more efficient decisions. The algorithm, funded by Google, aims to minimize 'regret' in computer decision-making by analyzing variables and adapting to situations.
A new study challenges the traditional prisoner's dilemma paradigm by suggesting that incentives to cooperate can minimize conflict and change the game from pure conflict to partial cooperation. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, finds that payoffs from social interactions can evolve under certain conditions...
Researchers discovered that reef fish punish blennies for stealing food without punishment, resulting in reduced future attacks on punishers. This behavior creates a public good, as all members of the species benefit from the punishment.
Research by Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob suggests that bacteria can effectively control 'noise' in their environment and make decisions that benefit the entire colony. Bacteria's group decision-making processes can inform human decision-making, particularly in situations with multiple stakeholders.
Research reveals nearly half of patients who initiated biennial fecal occult blood test screening did not adhere to subsequent colorectal screening. In contrast, depression management programs delivered promising long-term results for chronically depressed primary care patients. The study also found modest reductions in branded drug us...
Researchers developed Inductive Game Theory to study conflict, identifying strategies that generate intense conflict and highlighting the importance of group interactions. The approach suggests individual agency may over-estimate in social evolution and considers the impact of friends' and enemies' actions on conflict.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University used bacterial decision-making to advise against automatic swine flu shot uptake. Bacteria communicate through chemical signals and consider risks before making decisions, suggesting a cautious approach for humans. They propose that only individuals with widespread contact should receive the vaccine.
A new theory proposes that male lemurs deposit a solid plug in the female's reproductive tract to prevent rival males from mating, allowing them to focus on other females. This strategy is thought to be advantageous when females have short receptivity periods and are the same size as males.
A new study finds that consumers can use 'emotion gaming' to get better deals by exaggerating their anger levels. This tactic is effective when proposers believe the receivers' emotions are genuine. However, if proposers suspect a strategic display, its impact on offers disappears.
A team of MIT researchers used game theory to study cooperative behavior in yeast, finding that individual benefit can outweigh costs and lead to successful competition against non-cooperators. The study offers a concrete example of how cooperative behaviors can be compatible with evolutionary theory.
Researchers used game theory to explain juvenile ravens' unusual foraging behavior, finding that it occurs when searching individually is less efficient. The study suggests that abundant food and social advancement drive the adoption of 'gang' foraging, potentially improving their social status.
Camerer discusses his cognitive hierarchy theory, which suggests people only take a few steps of iterated thinking when strategizing. This theory has been tested using various game-theory experiments and field-data sets, showing that people typically choose lower numbers in games like the Swedish LUPI lottery.
In a study, researchers found that even slight differences between competing species can lead to the weakest being victorious in cyclical competitions. This phenomenon, known as the law of the weakest, was simulated using computer models and has implications for understanding evolution and ecosystem development.
A study found that participants cooperated more often when playing for a higher numeric reward, such as 300 cents, rather than an equivalent economic value. This challenge traditional assumptions about decision-making and has implications for fields like politics and finance.
A mathematical model by UCL researchers explains how extended courtship enables a male to signal his suitability and the female to screen out unsuitable mates. The study shows that long courtship carries information about the male's type, making it more probable that he is a good male over time.
A new study suggests that betraying trust early on can be devastating and plant seeds of doubt, making it harder to rebuild. In experiments, students who experienced immediate trust breaches showed less cooperation and more negative evaluations of their partners compared to those whose partner defected later.
Professor Chandramouli's paper, titled A game theoretic framework for distributed self-coexistence among IEEE 802.22 networks, is one of 11 papers selected to receive a GLOBECOM '08 Best Paper Award. The award recognizes the author's work on cognitive radio based IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area network (WRAN) that operates in under-...
The Federal Air Marshals Service is exploring the use of USC's ARMOR system to enhance its operations. The system, which applies game theory insights to scheduling, has been shown to improve security by making it difficult for observers to find predictable patterns in law enforcement patrols. This collaboration aims to further develop ...
Research at the University of Leicester finds that past experience with a particular GP and expectation of continuing care from the same GP are key predictors of patient trust. This suggests that planned changes to primary care delivery in the UK may negatively impact medical outcomes.
Researchers investigate how humans perceive humanoid robots and attribute mental qualities, finding increased brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. Participants enjoyed interactions more when robots displayed human-like features, suggesting a link between human-robot interaction and mentalizing.
Psychologists at the University of Leicester and Exeter discovered that most individuals act in their team's best interest, often sacrificing personal benefits. The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, tested two theories on human behavior: classical game theory and team reasoning theories.
A new game theory research from the University of Maryland, Duke University and The Johns Hopkins University concludes that parents exercise control effectively modifying adolescent risky behavior. Having one additional younger sibling lowers the likelihood of an adolescent dropping out of high school by 3 percentage points.
A study by researchers at Harvard University found that punishing others does not increase the average payoff of a group. Instead, it leads to reduced individual payoff and a downward spiral of retaliation. The study suggests that punishment may have evolved for dominance hierarchy and ownership defense, rather than cooperation.
Recent behavioral game theory research suggests that democratic market societies depend on a balance between selfishness and morality to succeed. This perspective is supported by studies showing that university students in traditional societies exhibit more antisocial punishment behavior than those in advanced market economies.
A Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist has created a computer program called GS1 that can play winning hands of Texas Hold'Em without knowing much about the game. The program relies on game theory to analyze poker rules and outperformed two leading 'pokerbots' in tests.
A new theoretical model explains how cooperation can emerge in a 'cheater's world', where self-interest typically prevails. In this model, group size plays a crucial role in the evolution of cooperation, with smaller groups allowing altruistic individuals to thrive and maintain their numbers over time.
A new study examines how competition scales influence cooperative behavior in humans, finding that global competition leads to reciprocal cooperation and selfish conflict in local competition. The research suggests that the spatial scale of competition may drive evolutionary changes in social behavior.
Researchers found that well-informed players contributed the most to a public good, climate preservation. Players who received public recognition also donated more than those who made anonymous contributions.
A Stevens Institute of Technology professor has been awarded a grant from the Office of Naval Research to develop more efficient energy-sensitive sensor networks for the US military. The project aims to improve sensor performance and reduce energy consumption in these critical systems.
Researchers have achieved a record-breaking stop of light for over one second using electromagnetically induced transparency. A new model clarifying the mathematical basis for diversity in Darwinian evolution has been developed, suggesting that related species emerging from a common ancestor can quickly evolve in different directions.
Two Virginia Tech researchers are developing game theory-based approaches to improve wireless communications and designing smart garments that can sense their own shapes. These projects aim to create more efficient wireless networks and wearable technology.
Researchers studied social implications of winner and loser effects in green swordtail fish, nocturnal colour vision in geckos, and bird distress calls. They also examined queen and worker policing in wasps and developed a model to minimize the impact of exotic infections.