Smarter than humans: rationality reflected in primate neuronal reward signals

Rational choice, in all its definitions by various disciplines, allows agents to maximize utility. Formal axioms and simple choice designs are suitable for assessing rationality in monkeys. Their economic preferences are complete and transitive. In this paper I will describe how neuronal reward signals demonstrate a propensity for rational choice. Dopamine signals follow transitivity and satisfy first-order stochastic dominance that defines the better option. Neurons in orbitofrontal cortex reflect unchanged preferences when a dominated option is removed from the option set, thus satisfying Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA). While monkeys, with their reward neurons, may not be more rational than humans, the constraints of controlled experiments seem to allow them to behave rationally within their informational, cognitive and temporal bounds.

Automated summary

Studies have shown that neuronal reward signals demonstrate a propensity for rational choice, with dopamine signals following transitivity and first-order stochastic dominance. Additionally, neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex exhibit unchanged preferences when a dominated option is removed, satisfying the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) principle.