scholarly journals Humans use forward thinking to exploit social controllability

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soojung Na ◽  
Dongil Chung ◽  
Andreas Hula ◽  
Ofer Perl ◽  
Jennifer Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Profound Impact ◽  
Downstream Effects

The controllability of our social environment has a profound impact on our behavior and mental health. Nevertheless, neurocomputational mechanisms underlying social controllability remain elusive. Here, 48 participants performed a task where their current choices either did (Controllable), or did not (Uncontrollable), influence partners’ future proposals. Computational modeling revealed that people engaged a mental model of forward thinking (FT; i.e., calculating the downstream effects of current actions) to estimate social controllability in both Controllable and Uncontrollable conditions. A large-scale online replication study (n=1342) supported this finding. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (n=48), we further demonstrated that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) computed the projected total values of current actions during forward planning, supporting the neural realization of the forward-thinking model. These findings demonstrate that humans use vmPFC-dependent FT to estimate and exploit social controllability, expanding the role of this neurocomputational mechanism beyond spatial and cognitive contexts.

scholarly journals Fear-induced increases in loss aversion are linked to increased neural negative-value coding

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-670
Author(s):  
Stefan Schulreich ◽  
Holger Gerhardt ◽  
Dar Meshi ◽  
Hauke R Heekeren
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Loss Aversion ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Fearful Faces ◽  
Value Coding

Abstract Human decisions are often influenced by emotions. An economically relevant example is the role of fear in generating loss aversion. Previous research implicates the amygdala as a key brain structure in the experience of fear and loss aversion. The neural mechanism behind emotional influences on loss aversion is, however, unclear. To address this, we measured brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants made decisions about monetary gambles after viewing fearful or neutral faces. We observed that loss aversion following the presentation of neutral faces was mainly predicted by greater deactivations for prospective losses (relative to activations for prospective gains) in several brain regions, including the amygdala. By contrast, increases in loss aversion following the presentation of fearful faces were mainly predicted by greater activations for prospective losses. These findings suggest a fear-induced shift from positive to negative value coding that reflects a context-dependent involvement of distinct valuation processes.

scholarly journals Cerebral Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Activation Modulated by a Single Dose of the Monoamine Neurotransmission Enhancers Fluoxetine and Fenozolone during Hand Sensorimotor Tasks

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1365-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Loubinoux ◽  
Keder Boulanouar ◽  
Jean-Philippe Ranjeva ◽  
Christophe Carel ◽  
Isabelle Berry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Single Dose ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Motor Activity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging

Fluoxetine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, and dextroamphetamine enhances presynaptic release of monoamines. Although the excitatory effect of both noradrenaline and dopamine on motor behavior generally is accepted, the role of serotonin on motor output is under debate. In the current investigation, the authors evidenced a putative role of monoamines and, more specifically, of serotonin in the regulation of cerebral motor activity in healthy subjects. The effects on cerebral motor activity of a single dose of fluoxetine (20 mg), an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, and fenozolone (20 mg/50 kg), an amphetamine-like drug, were assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects performed sensorimotor tasks with the right hand. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in two sessions on two different days. The first session, with two scan experiments separated by 5 hours without any drug administration, served as time-effect control. A second, similar session but with drug administration after the first scan assessed drug effects. A large increase in evoked signal intensity occurred in the ipsilateral cerebellum, and a parallel, large reduction occurred in primary and secondary motor cortices (P < 10–3). These results are consistent with the known effects of habituation. Both drugs elicited comparable effects, that is, a more focused activation in the contralateral sensorimotor area, a greater involvement of posterior supplementary motor area, and a widespread decrease of bilateral cerebellar activation (P < 10–3). The authors demonstrated for the first time that cerebral motor activity can be modulated by a single dose of fluoxetine or fenozolone in healthy subjects. Drug effects demonstrated a direct or indirect involvement of monoamines and serotonin in the facilitation of cerebral motor activity.

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