Random mobility and spatial structure often enhance cooperation

J Theor Biol. 2009 Jan 21;256(2):240-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.09.022. Epub 2008 Oct 10.

Abstract

The effects of an unconditional move rule in the spatial Prisoner's Dilemma, Snowdrift and Stag Hunt games are studied. Spatial structure by itself is known to modify the outcome of many games when compared with a randomly mixed population, sometimes promoting, sometimes inhibiting cooperation. Here we show that random dilution and mobility may suppress the inhibiting factors of the spatial structure in the Snowdrift game, while enhancing the already larger cooperation found in the Prisoner's dilemma and Stag Hunt games.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Game Theory*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Population Dynamics
  • Stochastic Processes