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davidkatz comments on [LINK] Antibiotic seemingly improves decision-making in the presence of attractive women. - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: iconreforged 07 May 2013 02:26PM

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Tags: decision neuroscience

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Comment author: davidkatz 07 May 2013 04:38:23PM *  2 points [-]

I'm interested in what other effects taking minocycline has. Often the same biological systems regulate or affect diverse phenomena. Case in point, I believe sickle cell trait offers resistance against Malaria, but also (under other circumstances) causes sickle cell anemia.

Does taking minocycline only improve rational decision making? If it does, does that increase fitness? I see three options which are worthy of some reflection.

  • Our trust mechanism are not optimal, minocycline improves our decision making and increases fitness.
  • Our existing trust mechanism offers good fitness. Perhaps trusting attractive females tends to pay off genetically, on average, and minocycline actually reduces genetic fitness (and perhaps increases things we consider more worthy).
  • There's some other third factor, yet unidentified, which increased rational decision making trades off against.

Anyone care to weigh in on this?

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