1
|
Blevins E, Ko M, Park B, Qu Y, Knutson B, Tsai JL. Cultural variation in neural responses to social but not monetary reward outcomes. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad068. [PMID: 37952225 PMCID: PMC10703126 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad068] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
European Americans view high-intensity, open-mouthed 'excited' smiles more positively than Chinese because they value excitement and other high arousal positive states more. This difference is supported by reward-related neural activity, with European Americans showing greater Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) activity to excited (vs calm) smiles than Chinese. But do these cultural differences generalize to all rewards, and are they related to real-world social behavior? European American (N = 26) and Chinese (N = 27) participants completed social and monetary incentive delay tasks that distinguished between the anticipation and receipt (outcome) of social and monetary rewards while undergoing Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI). The groups did not differ in NAcc activity when anticipating social or monetary rewards. However, as predicted, European Americans showed greater NAcc activity than Chinese when viewing excited smiles during outcome (the receipt of social reward). No cultural differences emerged when participants received monetary outcomes. Individuals who showed increased NAcc activity to excited smiles during outcome had friends with more intense smiles on social media. These findings suggest that culture plays a specific role in modulating reward-related neural responses to excited smiles during outcome, which are associated with real-world relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Blevins
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Ko
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - BoKyung Park
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Yang Qu
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Brian Knutson
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeanne L Tsai
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bode A. Romantic love evolved by co-opting mother-infant bonding. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1176067. [PMID: 37915523 PMCID: PMC10616966 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1176067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
For 25 years, the predominant evolutionary theory of romantic love has been Fisher's theory of independent emotion systems. That theory suggests that sex drive, romantic attraction (romantic love), and attachment are associated with distinct neurobiological and endocrinological systems which evolved independently of each other. Psychological and neurobiological evidence, however, suggest that a competing theory requires attention. A theory of co-opting mother-infant bonding sometime in the recent evolutionary history of humans may partially account for the evolution of romantic love. I present a case for this theory and a new approach to the science of romantic love drawing on human psychological, neurobiological, and (neuro)endocrinological studies as well as animal studies. The hope is that this theoretical review, along with other publications, will generate debate in the literature about the merits of the theory of co-opting mother-infant bonding and a new evolutionary approach to the science of romantic love.
Collapse
|
3
|
Blumenthal SA, Young LJ. The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:844. [PMID: 37372130 PMCID: PMC10295201 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Love is a powerful emotional experience that is rooted in ancient neurobiological processes shared with other species that pair bond. Considerable insights have been gained into the neural mechanisms driving the evolutionary antecedents of love by studies in animal models of pair bonding, particularly in monogamous species such as prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Here, we provide an overview of the roles of oxytocin, dopamine, and vasopressin in regulating neural circuits responsible for generating bonds in animals and humans alike. We begin with the evolutionary origins of bonding in mother-infant relationships and then examine the neurobiological underpinnings of each stage of bonding. Oxytocin and dopamine interact to link the neural representation of partner stimuli with the social reward of courtship and mating to create a nurturing bond between individuals. Vasopressin facilitates mate-guarding behaviors, potentially related to the human experience of jealousy. We further discuss the psychological and physiological stress following partner separation and their adaptive function, as well as evidence of the positive health outcomes associated with being pair-bonded based on both animal and human studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Blumenthal
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Larry J. Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Escriche Chova P, Ferrer E, Goetze LR, Dufek ME, Freeman SM, Bales KL. Neural and behavioral reactions to partners and strangers in monogamous female titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). Behav Brain Res 2023; 443:114334. [PMID: 36781020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Pair bonding in humans and other socially monogamous species can have positive effects on health and well-being. These attachments also come with the potential for challenges such as separation, jealousy, or grief. Much of the work on the neurobiology of pair bonding in non-human primates has been carried out in coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus), a monogamous South American monkey, although these studies have been primarily in males. In the current study, we utilized female titi monkeys to experimentally examine responses to their monogamous male partner vs. a male stranger or being alone. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans were performed on eight adult female titi monkeys from well-established pairs. We used a within-subjects design in which each female underwent three different conditions after the fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (FDG) injection: a) the subject was reunited with her partner, b) encountered a stranger, or c) was alone in the experimental cage. Behavioural observations were recorded, and plasma assayed for cortisol. Females housed alone showed higher cortisol compared with either the partner or stranger conditions. FDG uptake was higher in the amygdala and hippocampus when interacting with the stranger than the partner. Proximity modulated the relationship between social condition and FDG uptake in several areas. Females entered into mutual proximity more frequently with the partner than with the stranger. Female titi monkeys have different physiological, neural, and behavioural reactions to being with their partner, a stranger male, or being alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Escriche Chova
- California National Primate Research Center, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Emilio Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Leana R Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Madison E Dufek
- California National Primate Research Center, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Sara M Freeman
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Psychology, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, UC-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ueda R. Neural Processing of Facial Attractiveness and Romantic Love: An Overview and Suggestions for Future Empirical Studies. Front Psychol 2022; 13:896514. [PMID: 35774950 PMCID: PMC9239166 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.896514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Romantic love is universally observed in human communities, and the manner in which a person chooses a long-term romantic partner has been a central question in studies on close relationships. Numerous empirical psychological studies have demonstrated that facial attractiveness greatly impacts initial romantic attraction. This close link was further investigated by neuroimaging studies showing that both viewing attractive faces and having romantic thoughts recruit the reward system. However, it remains unclear how our brains integrate perceived facial attractiveness into initial romantic attraction. In addition, it remains unclear how our brains shape a persistent attraction to a particular person through interactions; this persistent attraction is hypothesized to contribute to a long-term relationship. After reviewing related studies, I introduce methodologies that could help address these questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Ueda
- Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|