How brains make decisions

TL;DR

This paper presents Quantum Decision Theory (QDT), a mathematical framework inspired by quantum measurement principles, to model human decision-making processes involving conscious and subconscious factors, and demonstrates its agreement with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum-inspired model of decision making that accounts for emotional and subconscious influences, extending classical theories without implying the brain is quantum.

Findings

QDT solves classical decision paradoxes.

Excellent agreement with experimental data.

Application to prisoner dilemma game.

Abstract

This chapter, dedicated to the memory of Mino Freund, summarizes the Quantum Decision Theory (QDT) that we have developed in a series of publications since 2008. We formulate a general mathematical scheme of how decisions are taken, using the point of view of psychological and cognitive sciences, without touching physiological aspects. The basic principles of how intelligence acts are discussed. The human brain processes involved in decisions are argued to be principally different from straightforward computer operations. The difference lies in the conscious-subconscious duality of the decision making process and the role of emotions that compete with utility optimization. The most general approach for characterizing the process of decision making, taking into account the conscious-subconscious duality, uses the framework of functional analysis in Hilbert spaces, similarly to that used in the quantum theory of measurements. This does not imply that the brain is a quantum system, but just allows for the simplest and most general extension of classical decision theory. The resulting theory of quantum decision making, based on the rules of quantum measurements, solves all paradoxes of classical decision making, allowing for quantitative predictions that are in excellent agreement with experiments. Finally, we provide a novel application by comparing the predictions of QDT with experiments on the prisoner dilemma game. The developed theory can serve as a guide for creating artificial intelligence acting by quantum rules.