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Ogawa A, Asano S, Osada T, Tanaka M, Tochigi R, Kamagata K, Aoki S, Konishi S. Role of right temporoparietal junction for counterfactual evaluation of partner's decision in ultimatum game. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2947-2957. [PMID: 35718541 PMCID: PMC10016052 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans assess the distributions of resources based on their aversion to unfairness. If a partner distributes in an unfair manner even though the partner had a less unfair distribution option, a recipient will believe that the partner should have chosen the counterfactual option. In this study, we investigated the neural basis for fairness evaluation of actual and counterfactual options in the ultimatum game. In this task, a partner chose one distribution option out of two options, and a participant accepted or rejected the option. The behavioral results showed that the acceptance rate was influenced by counterfactual evaluation (CE), among others, as defined by the difference of monetary amount between the actual and counterfactual options. The functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed that CE was associated with the right ventral angular gyrus (vAG) that provided one of convergent inputs to the supramarginal gyrus related to decision utility, which reflects gross preferences for the distribution options. Furthermore, inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation administered to the right vAG reduced the behavioral component associated with CE. These results suggest that our acceptance/rejection of distribution options relies on multiple processes (monetary amount, disadvantageous inequity, and CE) and that the right vAG causally contributes to CE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saki Asano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Takahiro Osada
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Masaki Tanaka
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Reia Tochigi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Seiki Konishi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
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2
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Kuroda K, Ogura Y, Ogawa A, Tamei T, Ikeda K, Kameda T. Behavioral and neuro-cognitive bases for emergence of norms and socially shared realities via dynamic interaction. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1379. [PMID: 36522539 PMCID: PMC9754314 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the digital era, new socially shared realities and norms emerge rapidly, whether they are beneficial or harmful to our societies. Although these are emerging properties from dynamic interaction, most research has centered on static situations where isolated individuals face extant norms. We investigated how perceptual norms emerge endogenously as shared realities through interaction, using behavioral and fMRI experiments coupled with computational modeling. Social interactions fostered convergence of perceptual responses among people, not only overtly but also at the covert psychophysical level that generates overt responses. Reciprocity played a critical role in increasing the stability (reliability) of the psychophysical function within each individual, modulated by neural activity in the mentalizing network during interaction. These results imply that bilateral influence promotes mutual cognitive anchoring of individual views, producing shared generative models at the collective level that enable endogenous agreement on totally new targets-one of the key functions of social norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiri Kuroda
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
- Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Research in Business and Economics, Faculty of Economics, Meiji Gakuin University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8636, Japan
- Department of Social Psychology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yukiko Ogura
- Department of Mechano-Informatics, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Ogawa
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tomoya Tamei
- Department of Robotics, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Kazushi Ikeda
- Division of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kameda
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan.
- Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan.
- Department of Social Psychology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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3
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Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays causal role in probability weighting during risky choice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16115. [PMID: 36167703 PMCID: PMC9515118 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we provide causal evidence that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) supports the computation of subjective value in choices under risk via its involvement in probability weighting. Following offline continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) of the DLPFC subjects (N = 30, mean age 23.6, 56% females) completed a computerized task consisting of 96 binary lottery choice questions presented in random order. Using the hierarchical Bayesian modeling approach, we then estimated the structural parameters of risk preferences (the degree of risk aversion and the curvature of the probability weighting function) and analyzed the obtained posterior distributions to determine the effect of stimulation on model parameters. On a behavioral level, temporary downregulation of the left DLPFC excitability through cTBS decreased the likelihood of choosing an option with higher expected reward while the probability of choosing a riskier lottery did not significantly change. Modeling the stimulation effects on risk preference parameters showed anecdotal evidence as assessed by Bayes factors that probability weighting parameter increased after the left DLPFC TMS compared to sham.
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Fareri DS, Stasiak JE, Sokol-Hessner P. Choosing for others changes dissociable computational mechanisms underpinning risky decision-making. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14361. [PMID: 35999449 PMCID: PMC9399086 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Choices under risk often have consequences for ourselves and others. Yet, it is unclear how the other's identity (stranger, close friend, etc.) influences risky choices made on their behalf. In a mixed within and between subjects design, two participant groups made three series of risky economic decisions: for themselves, another person, or for both themselves and another person (i.e., shared outcomes). One group made choices involving a same-sex stranger (n = 29), the other made choices involving a same-sex close friend (n = 28). Hierarchical Bayesian estimation of computations underlying risky decision-making revealed that relative to choosing for themselves, people were more risk averse, loss averse, and consistent when choices involved another person. Partner identity was additionally crucial: people became risk neutral and more consistent when choosing for friends relative to strangers. These findings establish that the complexity of the social world is mirrored in its nuanced consequences for our choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic S Fareri
- Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Blodgett Hall, Rm. 212C, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, 11530, USA.
| | - Joanne E Stasiak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
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5
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Loued-Khenissi L, Martin-Brevet S, Schumacher L, Corradi-Dell'Acqua C. The Effect of Uncertainty on Pain Decisions for Self and Others. Eur J Pain 2022; 26:1163-1175. [PMID: 35290697 PMCID: PMC9322544 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Estimating others’ pain is a challenging inferential process, associated with a high degree of uncertainty. While much is known about uncertainty’s effect on self‐regarding actions, its impact on other‐regarding decisions for pain have yet to be characterized. Aim The present study exploited models of probabilistic decision‐making to investigate how uncertainty influences the valuation and assessment of another’s pain. Materials & Methods We engaged 63 dyads (43 strangers and 20 romantic couples) in a task where individual choices affected the pain delivered to either oneself (the agent) or the other member of the dyad. At each trial, agents were presented with cues predicting a given pain intensity with an associated probability of occurrence. Agents either chose a sure (mild decrease of pain) or risky (50% chance of avoiding pain altogether) management option, before bidding on their choice. A heat stimulation was then issued to the target (self or other). Decision‐makers were then asked to rate the pain administered to the target. Results We found that the higher the expected pain, the more risk‐averse agents became, in line with findings in value‐based decision‐making. Furthermore, agents gambled less on another individual’s pain (especially strangers) and placed higher bids on pain relief than they did for themselves. Most critically, the uncertainty associated with expected pain dampened ratings made for strangers’ pain. This contrasted with the effect on an agent’s own pain, for which risk had a marginal hyperalgesic effect. Discussion & Conclusion Overall, our results suggested that risk selectively affects decision‐making on a stranger’s suffering, both at the level of assessment and treatment selection, by (1) leading to underestimation, (2) privileging sure options and (3) altruistically allocating more money to insure the treatment’s success. Significance Uncertainty biases decision‐making but it is unclear if it affects choice behavior on pain for others. In examining this question, we found individuals were generally risk‐seeking when faced with looming pain, but more so for self; and assigned higher monetary values and subjective ratings on another’s pain. However, uncertainty dampened agents’ assessment of a stranger’s pain, suggesting latent variables may contradict overt altruism. This bias may underlie pain underestimation in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Loued-Khenissi
- Theory of Pain Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Luis Schumacher
- Theory of Pain Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Corrado Corradi-Dell'Acqua
- Theory of Pain Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Neuroscience Center, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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6
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Novak L, Malinakova K, Mikoska P, van Dijk JP, Tavel P. Neural correlates of compassion - An integrative systematic review. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 172:46-59. [PMID: 34963634 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Compassion is a psychological construct that has received increasing attention in recent years. Even though a lot of work has been done to identify neural correlates of empathy across studies, such work has not been properly done on neural correlates of compassion. Therefore, the aim was to systematically review the literature on neural correlates of compassion. We have searched through PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published between 1985 and 2020. We included the studies (n = 35) examining the relationship between brain structure or function and compassion. Screening was performed by two authors, between whom a level of agreement was calculated. The quality of the studies was assessed by measures used in other studies as well by measures specific for our study aims. This study was conducted under PRISMA guidelines. Our analysis revealed that the most frequent neural associations with compassion across all analysed studies can be found in the orbital part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, in the right cerebellum, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, in the bilateral insula and the right caudate nucleus. Our findings suggest that people displaying a lower compassion tend to have either lower neural activity or a grey matter volume in neural areas associated with reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Novak
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Klara Malinakova
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Mikoska
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jitse P van Dijk
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, P.J. Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Peter Tavel
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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7
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Ueshima A, Kameda T. Reducing variance or helping the poorest? A mouse tracking approach to investigate cognitive bases of inequality aversion in resource allocation. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201159. [PMID: 33959311 PMCID: PMC8074914 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans dislike unequal allocations. Although often conflated, such 'inequality-averse' preferences are separable into two elements: egalitarian concern about the variance and maximin concern about the poorest (maximizing the minimum). Recent research has shown that the maximin concern operates more robustly in allocation decisions than the egalitarian concern. However, the real-time cognitive dynamics of allocation decisions are still unknown. Here, we examined participants' choice behaviour with high temporal resolution using a mouse-tracking technique. Participants made a series of allocation choices for others between two options: a 'non-Utilitarian option' with both smaller variance and higher minimum pay-off (but a smaller total) compared with the other 'Utilitarian option'. Choice data confirmed that participants had strong inequality-averse preferences, and when choosing non-utilitarian allocations, participants' mouse movements prior to choices were more strongly determined by the minimum elements of the non-Utilitarian options than the variance elements. Furthermore, a time-series analysis revealed that this dominance emerged at a very early stage of decision making (around 500 ms after the stimulus onset), suggesting that the maximin concern operated as a strong cognitive anchor almost instantaneously. Our results provide the first temporally fine-scale evidence that people weigh the maximin concern over the egalitarian concern in distributive judgements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Ueshima
- Department of Social Psychology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kameda
- Department of Social Psychology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences, Hokkaido University, N10W7 Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-0041, Japan
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8
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Ueshima A, Mercier H, Kameda T. Social deliberation systematically shifts resource allocation decisions by focusing on the fate of the least well-off. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2020.104067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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9
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Jääskeläinen IP, Klucharev V, Panidi K, Shestakova AN. Neural Processing of Narratives: From Individual Processing to Viral Propagation. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:253. [PMID: 32676019 PMCID: PMC7333591 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Narratives, in the form of, e.g., written stories, mouth-to-mouth accounts, audiobooks, fiction movies, and media-feeds, powerfully shape the perception of reality and widely influence human decision-making. In this review, we describe findings from recent neuroimaging studies unraveling how narratives influence the human brain, thus shaping perception, cognition, emotions, and decision-making. It appears that narrative sense-making relies on default-mode network (DMN) structures of the brain, especially precuneus. Activity in precuneus further seems to differ for fictitious vs. real narratives. Notably, high inter-subject correlation (ISC) of brain activity during narrative processing seems to predict the efficacy of a narrative. Factors that enhance the ISC of brain activity during narratives include higher levels of attention, emotional arousal, and negative emotional valence. Higher levels of attentional suspense seem to co-vary with activity in the temporoparietal junction, emotional arousal with activity in dorsal attention network, and negative emotional valence with activity in DMN. Lingering after-effects of emotional narratives have been further described in DMN, amygdala, and sensory cortical areas. Finally, inter-individual differences in personality, and cultural-background related analytical and holistic thinking styles, shape ISC of brain activity during narrative perception. Together, these findings offer promising leads for future studies elucidating the effects of narratives on the human brain, and how such effects might predict the efficacy of narratives in modulating decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iiro P Jääskeläinen
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.,International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasily Klucharev
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ksenia Panidi
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna N Shestakova
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Ogawa A, Kameda T. Dissociable roles of left and right temporoparietal junction in strategic competitive interaction. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:1037-1048. [PMID: 31680151 PMCID: PMC6970153 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many studies have shown that the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is involved in inferring others' beliefs, neural correlates of 'second-order' inferences (inferring another's inference about one's own belief) are still elusive. Here we report a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment to examine the involvement of TPJ for second-order inferences. Participants played an economic game with three types of opponents: a human opponent outside the scanner, an artificial agent that followed a fixed probabilistic strategy according to a game-theoretic solution (FIX) and an artificial agent that adjusted its choices through a machine-learning algorithm (LRN). Participants' choice behaviors against the human opponent and LRN were similar but remarkably different from those against FIX. The activation of the left TPJ (LTPJ) was correlated with choice behavior against the human opponent and LRN but not against FIX. The overall activity pattern of the LTPJ for the human opponent was also similar to that for LRN but not for FIX. In contrast, the right TPJ (RTPJ) showed higher activation for the human opponent than FIX and LRN. These results suggest that, while the RTPJ is associated with the perception of human agency, the LTPJ is involved in second-order inferences in strategic decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akitoshi Ogawa
- Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.,Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tokyo 194-8610.,Labratory for Symbolic Cognitive Development, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kameda
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tokyo 194-8610.,Department of Social Psychology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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11
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Kuroda K, Kamijo Y, Kameda T. Investor's Pessimistic and False Belief About Trustworthiness and Stake Size in Trust Decision
1. JAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jpr.12288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Suzuki S, O'Doherty JP. Breaking human social decision making into multiple components and then putting them together again. Cortex 2020; 127:221-230. [PMID: 32224320 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Most of our waking time as human beings is spent interacting with other individuals. In order to make good decisions in this social milieu, it is often necessary to make inferences about the internal states, traits and intentions of others. Recently, some progress has been made toward uncovering the neural computations underlying human social decision-making by combining functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging (fMRI) with computational modeling of behavior. Modeling of behavioral data allows us to identify the key computations necessary for social decision-making and to determine how these computations are integrated. Furthermore, by correlating these variables against neuroimaging data, it has become possible to elucidate where in the brain various computations are implemented. Here we review the current state of knowledge in the domain of social computational neuroscience. Findings to date have emphasized that social decisions are driven by multiple computations conducted in parallel, and implemented in distinct brain regions. We suggest that further progress is going to depend on identifying how and where such variables get integrated in order to yield a coherent behavioral output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Suzuki
- Brain, Mind and Markets Laboratory, Department of Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - John P O'Doherty
- Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA; Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
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13
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Wang M, Li J, Li D, Zhu C, Wang Y. Modulation of income redistribution decisions by anodal tDCS over the medial prefrontal cortex. Neurosci Lett 2020; 718:134701. [PMID: 31862226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
One cause of the persistence of income inequality may be rooted in people's resistance to change the existing income distribution. Prior studies have shown that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) may be associated with the decision making that influences income distribution. However, it is unclear whether the mPFC is involved in income redistribution tasks when third-party decision makers are unaffected by the outcome of the decision. In this study, we elucidate the neural mechanism underlying the tolerance of income inequality and the decision making that is related to income redistribution. By applying the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the mPFC, we investigate whether the change in the activation of the mPFC can influence a subject's inclination to expropriate a rich person's endowment and transfer it to a poor person. The main finding is that the anodal stimulation significantly reduced the subject's inclination to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor, and lowered the rate of accepting options for redistribution. However, the willingness of income redistribution did not change following the cathodal stimulation compared with the sham condition. The effect of the anodal stimulation was constant across three types of initial inequality. The stimulation effect is likely caused by the subject's enhanced loss aversion or desire to reinforce social hierarchies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minda Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Southeast University, 211189, Nanjing, China; Institute for Study of Brain-Like Economics, School of Economics, Shandong University, 250199, Jinan, China
| | - Jianbiao Li
- Institute for Study of Brain-Like Economics, School of Economics, Shandong University, 250199, Jinan, China; Department of Economics and Management, Nankai University Binhai College, 300071, Tianjin, China.
| | - Dahui Li
- Labovitz School of Business & Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth, 55812, Duluth, USA
| | - Chengkang Zhu
- Institute for Study of Brain-Like Economics, School of Economics, Shandong University, 250199, Jinan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Institute for Study of Brain-Like Economics, School of Economics, Shandong University, 250199, Jinan, China
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14
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Yinling ZHANG, Zhen YU, Xiaoqin MAI. The influence of social value orientation on self-other risk decision-making and its mechanisms. ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA SINICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1041.2020.00895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- ZHANG Yinling
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - YU Zhen
- School of Statistics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - MAI Xiaoqin
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
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15
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Zhang Y, Chen S, Hu X, Mai X. Increasing the Difference in Decision Making for Oneself and for Others by Stimulating the Right Temporoparietal Junction. Front Psychol 2019; 10:185. [PMID: 30787900 PMCID: PMC6372537 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) has been thought to be associated with the difference in self-other decision making. In the present study, using noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), we examined whether stimulating the rTPJ could modulate the self-other decision-making difference. We found that after receiving anodal stimulation of the rTPJ, participants were more likely to choose a high-value item for others than for themselves in the situations where the win probability of the high-value item was equal to or greater than that of a low-value item, indicating that elevating the cortical excitability of the rTPJ might increase the self-other decision-making difference in certain decision contexts. Our results suggest that decision making for others depends on neural activity in the rTPJ and regulation of the excitability of the rTPJ can influence the self-other decision-making difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinling Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Siyang Chen
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xinmu Hu
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Mai
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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