Simulation of how neuromodulation influences cooperative behavior

Abstract

Neuromodulators can have a strong effect on how organisms cooperate and compete for resources. To better understand the effect of neuromodulation on cooperative behavior, a computational model of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems was constructed and tested in games of conflict and cooperation. This neural model was based on the assumptions that dopaminergic activity increases as expected reward increases, and serotonergic activity increases as the expected cost of an action increases. The neural model guided the behavior of an agent that played a series of Hawk-Dove games against an opponent. The agent adapted its behavior appropriately to changes in environmental conditions and to changes in its opponent's strategy. The neural agent tended to engage in Hawk-like behavior in low-risk situations and Dove-like behavior in high-risk situations. When the simulated dopaminergic activity was greater than the serotonergic activity, the agent tended to escalate a fight. These results suggest how the neuromodulatory systems shape decision-making and adaptive behavior in competitive and cooperative situations. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.