Hans Liljenström (ed.)Advances in Cognitive Neurodynamics (IV)Advances in Cognitive Neurodynamics10.1007/978-94-017-9548-7_81

Self-Reflective Mind in a Machine: Neural Correlates for Multidimensional Mind Perception

Hideyuki Takahashi¹ and Takashi Omori²

(1)

Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan

(2)

Brain Research Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Japan

Hideyuki Takahashi

Email: hideyuki@ams.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

Abstract

From three different studies, we could find the entropy in Matching Pennies Game (MPG) increasing, owing to the mind perception of the game opponent. Further, we found two components of mind perception: “mind reader” and “mind holder”. We also found neural correlates related to each component in MPG. The series of our studies shed a light on the neural function of mind perception in social interaction.

Keywords

PerceptionMatching pennies gameNeural correlatesSocial interactionRobots

1 Introduction

We sometimes attribute a mental state to a non-animate object, such as a communication robot. Neuroimaging studies have explored neural correlates for the mind perception and these studies found that specific brain regions, such as medial prefrontal cortex, tempora-parietal junction and superior temporal sulcus, function in the mind perception [1]. Further, these brain regions are known to be activated even in the mind perception for a non-animate object, such as a human-like robot [2].

Recently, the mind perception is thought to follow multi-dimensional scales. For example, Gray and his collages proposed two dimensional scales for the mind perception, “agency” and “experience”, on a basis of large-scale questionnaire surveys [3]. However, the mind perception has been dealt as a one-dimensional psychological scale in most of previous neuroimaging studies. Further there are few studies that revealed how each scale of the mind perception affects our cognition and behavior.

In this paper, we introduce our three studies using matching pennies game (MPG) for investigating how multiple aspects of mind perception affect behavior and brain activities during the game playing.

2 About Matching Pennies Game (MPG)

MPG is a simple, zero-sum, competitive game played by two players. In this game, each player selects one decision from two options, “L” or “R,” in each trial; winning/losing outcomes for each player are determined by a combination of the decisions of the two players. If both players select the same choice, one player is the winner and the other is the loser. If not, the identities of the winner and the loser are reversed. The winner receives a fixed reward, and the loser loses the same amount, in each trial. Participants played this game across multiple trials and were asked to increase their accumulated rewards as much as possible. MPG is a symmetrical, zero-sum game, and the required strategy is completely equal between the two players. Participants were required to predict the opponent’s next behavior and to avoid the risk of having their behavior predicted by the opponent. In our experiment, the opponent was always a computer program, regardless of the instructions given to participants, and the program always selected each option with equal probability. Hence, the expected wining ratio was always 0.5, regardless of the participant’s decision.

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue