Course Number: NEURL-UA 302
Prerequisite: NEURL-UA 220 (Behavioral & Integrative Neural Science)
Semester: Occasional Spring Semesters
Description:
Neuroeconomics is a seminar-style upper level course covering the neuroscientific, economic and psychological foundations of human and animal decision-making. Although aimed mostly at juniors and seniors in neural science and psychology, the course is also appropriate for economists and Stern students interested in the biological foundation of choice. The course begins with a review of the independent economic, psychological and neuroscientific approaches to decision-making before moving into the core insights of modern neuroeconomics. Topic covered include: Subjective Value Theory and its Representation in the Brain, Intertemporal Choice, Neural Foundations of Game Theory, Consumer Decision-Making, Neural Foundations of Prospect Theory, and Efficient Coding as an Explanation for Choice Inconsistency. Typically, class periods begin with a 1h lecture by the Professor covering one or more textbook chapters. This is followed by student presentations of relevant original research articles and open discussion of those articles.