TAKAHASHI Taiki

Japanese

Profile

TAKAHASHI Taiki Associate Professor
Research Subject

Neurobiological correlates of decision-making, e.g., intertemporal choice, decision under uncertainty, social preference

Research Fields
Behavioral neuroeconomics
Faculty - Division / Research Group / Laboratory
Division of Human Sciences / Research Group of Behavioral Science / Laboratory of Behavioral Science
Graduate School - Division / Department / Laboratory
Division of Human Sciences / Department of Behavioral Science / Laboratory of Behavioral Science
School - Course / Laboratory
Division of Humanities and Human Sciences / Course of Human Sciences / Laboratory of Behavioral Science
Contact

Email: ttakahashi(at)lynx.let.hokudai.ac.jp
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Lab.letters

Lab.letters
Laboratory of Behavioral Science／TAKAHASHI Taiki Associate Professor

Which would you prefer: one piece in 10 years, or two pieces in 10 years and a week?
Is there any contradiction in your choice?

Question 1: Which would you prefer: A, or B?
　A. One piece of chocolate in 10 years
　B. Two pieces of chocolate in 10 years and a week
Question 2: Which would you prefer: C, or D?
　C. One piece of chocolate right away
　D. Two pieces of chocolate in a week

 In fact, these questions amount to the same thing, except for the condition “in 10 years.” Economists tend to assume that those who are patient enough to choose B in question 1 will naturally choose D in question 2, and vice versa. But that’s not always the case. Generally speaking, subjective discount rates for rewards decrease the farther one goes into the future (people can wait), but increase the closer they are to the present (people can’t wait). This is referred to as the “preference reversal over time” in behavioral and neuro-economics, which is described by the following “hyperbolic” time-discount function.

The time discount function, plotted as days of delayed gratification on the x axis vs. the value of a reward on the y axis. For bipolar discounts, subjective discount rates decrease with increase in the delay of the reward, and increase with decrease in the delay of the reward. The idea of replacing chocolates with interest rates is applicable to deposits and savings situations.
Do different time conditions make you change your mind? What were your answers to the chocolate questions?

The fusion of behavioral economics and neuroscience:
Neuroeconomics as a science that liaises between these two

Behavioral economics is based on the concept that humans behave according to their desires, and neuroscience addresses the relationship between mind and brain. When these sciences confront problems beyond their frameworks, neuroeconomics, which is a fusion of the two, plays a role in solving those problems. This science focuses on using neurotransmitters, i.e., the micro level, to elucidate interpersonal interactions, i.e., the macro level of natural science. The ability to address issues regardless of their levels is a fresh lure of this science. Hokkaido University is blessed with a number of experts on economics, enabling the Faculty of Letters to perform joint research with the School of Science and the School of Medicine. Those who are interested in neuroeconomics are recommended to acquire a basic knowledge of biology, psychology and economics, in that order, which will help you to smoothly commence your technical studies.

Message

To examine the psychological and neural mechanisms behind decision making, I am engaged in research on a discipline called neuroeconomics combining findings in behavioral economics and neuroscience. I am employing approaches aimed at creating a fusion of psychology, biology and economics while applying a mathematical and physical model for behavioral analyses. I have primarily researched a paradox (anomaly) in time preference—which do you prefer, smaller immediate benefits or larger later benefits? More specifically, I have researched what type of neurohormones control time preference by accounting for the following phenomenon called hyperbolic discounting via a psychophysical model—people can patiently develop plans in the far future, but they tend to impulsively choose a smaller-sooner reward when actually implementing the intended plans. I will continue pursuing research on these themes based on a fusion of psychology, economics and biology while adopting the methods of neuroscience and mathematical physics.