Social decision ‐making in the brain: Input‐state‐output modelling reveals patterns of effective connectivity underlying reciprocal choices

AbstractDuring social interactions, decision ‐making involves mutual reciprocity—each individual's choices are simultaneously a consequence of, and antecedent to those of their interaction partner. Neuroeconomic research has begun to unveil the brain networks underpinning social decision‐making, but we know little about the patterns of n eural connectivity within them that give rise to reciprocal choices. To investigate this, the present study measured the behaviour and brain function of pairs of individuals (N = 66) whilst they played multiple rounds of economic exchange comprising an iterated ultimatum game. During these exchanges, both players could attempt to maximise their overall monetary gain by reciprocating their opponent's prior behaviour—they could promote generosity by rewarding it, and/ or discourage unfair play through retaliation. By adapting a model of reciprocity from experimental economics, we show that players' choices on each exchange are captured accurately by estimating their expected utility (EU) as a reciprocal reaction to their opponent's prior behaviour. We then demons trate neural responses that map onto these reciprocal choices in two brain regions implicated in social decision‐making: right anterior insula (AI) and anterior/anterior‐mid cingulate cortex (aMCC). Finally, with behavioural Dynamic Causal Modelling, we identified player‐specific patterns of e ffective connectivity between these brain regions with which we estimated e...

Source: Human Brain Mapping - November 15, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: Daniel Shaw, Krist ína Czekóová, Martin Gajdoš, Rostislav Staněk, Jiří Špalek, Milan Brázdil Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research