Do gamblers have something in common with pigeons?

5:01pm, Wed 27 Aug 2014

Last updated Wed 27 Aug 2014

  • And Finally
  • West Midlands
  • University of Warwick

People who enjoy gambling have something in common with pigeons.

That is according to research, which suggests human gamblers and pigeons are 35% more likely to take greater risks when there is a chance of a big win.

Is it worth the gamble?
Is it worth the gamble? Credit: Nel Pavletic/PIXSELL

Birds are distantly related to humans, yet we still share the same basic psychology that drives risk-taking. This may be due to a shared common ancestry or similar evolutionary pressures.

When people gamble, they often rely on past experiences with risk and rewards to make decisions. What we found in this study is that pigeons used these past experiences in very similar ways to guide their future gambling decisions. Any big wins we've had in the past are memorable and stand-out when we are making our decision to gamble again.

– Dr Elliot Ludvig, from the University of Warwick's Department of Psychology

The pigeons and human volunteers were testing with four options - two that led to high-value rewards and two that led to low-value rewards. Humans were rewarded with points and the birds were rewarded with food.

The study, published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Canada, and part-funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Canada, and part-funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute Credit: John Walton/EMPICS Sport

For each high or low reward level, one safe option resulted in a guaranteed fixed reward, and one risky option yielded a 50/50 chance of a better or worse outcome.

Both birds and humans were found to be 35% more likely to take a gamble on the high-value rewards.

Midlands expert claims new £1 billion telescope could find alien life

A Midlands expert has said he believes a new £1 billion pound European space telescope has a...

4:56 pm, Thu 20 Feb 2014

Warwick University to get new £92 million campus

A National Automotive Innovation Campus is to be built at the University of Warwick, costing £92 million.

2:26 pm, Mon 08 Oct 2012

Open all references in tabs: [1 - 4]