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Jin C, Li Y, Yin Y, Ma T, Hong W, Liu Y, Li N, Zhang X, Gao JH, Zhang X, Zha R. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex promotes self-control by inhibiting the egocentric perspective. Neuroimage 2024:120879. [PMID: 39369803 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) plays a crucial role in social cognitive functions, including perspective-taking. Although perspective-taking has been linked to self-control, the mechanism by which the dmPFC might facilitate self-control remains unclear. Using the multimodal neuroimaging dataset from the Human Connectome Project (Study 1, N =978 adults), we established a reliable association between the dmPFC and self-control, as measured by discounting rate-the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. Experiments (Study 2, N = 36 adults) involving high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation showed that anodal stimulation of the dmPFC reduces the discounting of delayed rewards and decreases the congruency effect in egocentric but not allocentric perspective in the visual perspective-taking tasks. These findings suggest that the dmPFC promotes self-control by inhibiting the egocentric perspective, offering new insights into the neural underpinnings of self-control and perspective-taking, and opening new avenues for interventions targeting disorders characterized by impaired self-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Jin
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China; Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Yin Yin
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Tenda Ma
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Yan Liu
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Jia-Hong Gao
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China; Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China; Application Technology Center of Physical Therapy to Brain Disorders, Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China; Hefei Medical Research Center on Alcohol Addiction, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, Anhui, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China.
| | - Rujing Zha
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China.
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Langley EB, O’Leary DJ, Gross JJ, Shiota MN. Breaking the Link Between Negative Emotion and Unhealthy Eating: the Role of Emotion Regulation. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2023; 4:702-710. [PMID: 38156256 PMCID: PMC10751272 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-023-00190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Stressful experiences frequently lead to increased consumption of unhealthy foods, high in sugar and fat yet low in nutrients. Can emotion regulation help break this link? In a laboratory experiment (N = 200), participants were encouraged to ruminate on a current, distressing personal problem, followed by instruction to use a specific emotion regulation strategy for managing feelings around that problem (challenge appraisal, relaxation/distraction, imagined social support, no-instruction control). Participants then spent 15 min on an anagram task in which 80% of items were unsolvable-a frustrating situation offering a second, implicit opportunity to use the regulation strategy. During the anagram task they had free access to a snack basket containing various options. Analyses revealed significant differences among regulation conditions in consumption of candy versus healthy snack options; challenge appraisal led to the healthiest snack choices, imagined social support to the least healthy snack choices. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-023-00190-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika B. Langley
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104 USA
| | | | - James J. Gross
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Michelle N. Shiota
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104 USA
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Edelson MG, Hare TA. Goal-Dependent Hippocampal Representations Facilitate Self-Control. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7822-7830. [PMID: 37714706 PMCID: PMC10648530 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0951-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal activity linking past experiences and simulations of the future with current goals can play an important role in decision-making. The representation of information within the hippocampus may be especially critical in situations where one needs to overcome past rewarding experiences and exert self-control. Self-control success or failure may depend on how information is represented in the hippocampus and how effectively the representation process can be modified to achieve a specific goal. We test this hypothesis using representational similarity analyses of human (female/male) neuroimaging data during a dietary self-control task in which individuals must overcome taste temptations to choose healthy foods. We find that self-control is indeed associated with the way individuals represent taste information (valance) in the hippocampus and how taste representations there adapt to align with different goals/contexts. Importantly, individuals who were able to shift their hippocampal representations to a larger degree to align with the current motivation were better able to exert self-control when facing a dietary challenge. These results suggest an alternative or complementary neurobiological pathway leading to self-control success and indicate the need to update the classical view of self-control to continue to advance our understanding of its behavioral and neural underpinnings.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The paper provides a new perspective on what leads to successful self-control at the behavioral and neurobiological levels. Our data suggest that self-control is enhanced when individuals adjust hippocampal processing to align with current goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah G Edelson
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zürich, 8006, Switzerland
| | - Todd A Hare
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zürich, 8006, Switzerland
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Baboumian S, Puma L, Swencionis C, Astbury NM, Ho J, Pantazatos SP, Geliebter A. Binge Eating (BE) and Obesity: Brain Activity and Psychological Measures before and after Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). Nutrients 2023; 15:3808. [PMID: 37686840 PMCID: PMC10490010 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain activity in response to food cues following Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) in binge eating (BE) or non-binge eating (NB) individuals is understudied. Here, 15 RYGB (8 BE; 7 NB) and 13 no treatment (NT) (7 BE; 6 NB) women with obesity underwent fMRI imaging while viewing high and low energy density food (HEF and LEF, respectively) and non-food (NF) visual cues. A region of interest (ROI) analysis compared BE participants to NB participants in those undergoing RYGB surgery pre-surgery and 4 months post. Results were corrected for multiple comparisons using liberal (p < 0.006 uncorrected) and stringent (p < 0.05 FDR corrected) thresholds. Four months following RYGB (vs. no treatment (NT) control), both BE and NB participants showed greater reductions in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals (a proxy of local brain activity) in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in response to HEF (vs. LEF) cues (p < 0.006). BE (vs. NB) participants showed greater increases in the precuneus (p < 0.006) and thalamic regions (p < 0.05 corrected) to food (vs. NF). For RYGB (vs. NT) participants, BE participants, but not NB participants, showed lower BOLD signal in the middle occipital gyrus (p < 0.006), whilst NB participants, but not BE participants, showed lower signal in inferior frontal gyrus (p < 0.006) in response to HEF (vs. LEF). Results suggest distinct neural mechanisms of RGYB in BE and may help lead to improved clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaunte Baboumian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Lauren Puma
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Charles Swencionis
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, 500 West 185th Street, New York, NY 10033, USA
| | - Nerys M. Astbury
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Jennifer Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Spiro P. Pantazatos
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Allan Geliebter
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
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Weinbach N, Barzilay G, Cohen N. Cognitive Reappraisal Reduces the Influence of Threat on Food Craving. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2022; 3:818-826. [PMID: 36519143 PMCID: PMC9743942 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00141-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive reappraisal is perhaps the most researched emotion regulation strategy. It involves reinterpreting emotional content to reduce its impact. While many studies have demonstrated that cognitive reappraisal reduces negative affect, the utility of cognitive reappraisal in buffering against the consequences of negative affect on subsequent behaviors and attitudes is not clear. To address this issue, the present study assessed whether cognitive reappraisal mitigates the influence of immediate threat on food craving. In Experiment 1, 80 women performed a novel combination of a cognitive reappraisal task with a food-rating task. Participants were exposed to threat-provoking or neutral images and were instructed to either reappraise or observe the images. Subsequently, they rated their desire to eat different types of foods. As expected, the desire to eat decreased after exposure to threat-provoking content. However, after reappraising the threat-provoking images, the desire to eat increased relative to when participants merely observed these images. These results were replicated in Experiment 2 (N = 46) which also showed that the effect of reappraisal on the desire to eat was fully mediated by the subjective emotional reactions to the threat-provoking content. These findings show that cognitive reappraisal can modulate links between emotion and food craving by buffering against the consequences of negative affect on basic human processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Weinbach
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Gili Barzilay
- Department of Special Education, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Cohen
- Department of Special Education, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
- The Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
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Goldfarb EV, Scheinost D, Fogelman N, Seo D, Sinha R. High-Risk Drinkers Engage Distinct Stress-Predictive Brain Networks. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:805-813. [PMID: 35272096 PMCID: PMC9378362 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive alcohol intake is a major public health problem and can be triggered by stress. Heavy drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder also alters neural, physiological, and emotional stress responses. However, it is unclear whether adaptations in stress-predictive brain networks can be an early marker of risky drinking behavior. METHODS Risky social drinkers (regular bingers; n = 53) and light drinker control subjects (n = 51) aged 18 to 53 years completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging-based sustained stress protocol with repeated measures of subjective stress state, during which whole-brain functional connectivity was computed. This was followed by prospective daily ecological momentary assessment for 30 days. We used brain computational predictive modeling with cross-validation to identify unique brain connectivity predictors of stress in risky drinkers and determine the prospective utility of stress-brain networks for subsequent loss of control over drinking. RESULTS Risky drinkers had anatomically and functionally distinct stress-predictive brain networks (showing stronger predictions from visual and motor networks) compared with light drinkers (default mode and frontoparietal networks). Stress-predictive brain networks defined for risky drinkers selectively predicted future real-world stress levels for risky drinkers and successfully predicted prospective future real-world loss of control over drinking across all participants. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate adaptations in computationally derived stress-related brain circuitry among high-risk drinkers, suggesting potential targets for early preventive intervention and revealing the malleability of the neural processes that govern stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth V. Goldfarb
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511,Yale Stress Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519,Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511,Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Dustin Scheinost
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven,,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520,Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511,Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Nia Fogelman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511,Yale Stress Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Dongju Seo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511,Yale Stress Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Rajita Sinha
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale Stress Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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7
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Godet A, Fortier A, Bannier E, Coquery N, Val-Laillet D. Interactions between emotions and eating behaviors: Main issues, neuroimaging contributions, and innovative preventive or corrective strategies. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2022; 23:807-831. [PMID: 34984602 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-021-09700-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Emotional eating is commonly defined as the tendency to (over)eat in response to emotion. Insofar as it involves the (over)consumption of high-calorie palatable foods, emotional eating is a maladaptive behavior that can lead to eating disorders, and ultimately to metabolic disorders and obesity. Emotional eating is associated with eating disorder subtypes and with abnormalities in emotion processing at a behavioral level. However, not enough is known about the neural pathways involved in both emotion processing and food intake. In this review, we provide an overview of recent neuroimaging studies, highlighting the brain correlates between emotions and eating behavior that may be involved in emotional eating. Interaction between neural and neuro-endocrine pathways (HPA axis) may be involved. In addition to behavioral interventions, there is a need for a holistic approach encompassing both neural and physiological levels to prevent emotional eating. Based on recent imaging, this review indicates that more attention should be paid to prefrontal areas, the insular and orbitofrontal cortices, and reward pathways, in addition to regions that play a major role in both the cognitive control of emotions and eating behavior. Identifying these brain regions could allow for neuromodulation interventions, including neurofeedback training, which deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambre Godet
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - Alexandra Fortier
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - Elise Bannier
- CRNS, INSERM, IRISA, INRIA, Univ Rennes, Empenn Rennes, France
- Radiology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Nicolas Coquery
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - David Val-Laillet
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France.
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Dennison JB, Sazhin D, Smith DV. Decision neuroscience and neuroeconomics: Recent progress and ongoing challenges. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022; 13:e1589. [PMID: 35137549 PMCID: PMC9124684 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, decision neuroscience and neuroeconomics have developed many new insights in the study of decision making. This review provides an overarching update on how the field has advanced in this time period. Although our initial review a decade ago outlined several theoretical, conceptual, methodological, empirical, and practical challenges, there has only been limited progress in resolving these challenges. We summarize significant trends in decision neuroscience through the lens of the challenges outlined for the field and review examples where the field has had significant, direct, and applicable impacts across economics and psychology. First, we review progress on topics including reward learning, explore-exploit decisions, risk and ambiguity, intertemporal choice, and valuation. Next, we assess the impacts of emotion, social rewards, and social context on decision making. Then, we follow up with how individual differences impact choices and new exciting developments in the prediction and neuroforecasting of future decisions. Finally, we consider how trends in decision-neuroscience research reflect progress toward resolving past challenges, discuss new and exciting applications of recent research, and identify new challenges for the field. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making Psychology > Emotion and Motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B Dennison
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel Sazhin
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David V Smith
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Maier SU, Grueschow M. Pupil dilation predicts individual self-regulation success across domains. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14342. [PMID: 34253756 PMCID: PMC8275757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93121-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple theories have proposed that increasing central arousal through the brain's locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system may facilitate cognitive control and memory. However, the role of the arousal system in emotion regulation is less well understood. Pupil diameter is a proxy to infer upon the central arousal state. We employed an emotion regulation paradigm with a combination of design features that allowed us to dissociate regulation from emotional arousal in the pupil diameter time course of 34 healthy adults. Pupil diameter increase during regulation predicted individual differences in emotion regulation success beyond task difficulty. Moreover, the extent of this individual regulatory arousal boost predicted performance in another self-control task, dietary health challenges. Participants who harnessed more regulation-associated arousal during emotion regulation were also more successful in choosing healthier foods. These results suggest that a common arousal-based facilitation mechanism may support an individual's self-control across domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia U Maier
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Bluemlisalpstrasse 10, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Translational Neuromodeling Unit, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Marcus Grueschow
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Bluemlisalpstrasse 10, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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