0
0
Virginia Tech, February 26, 2024
In a pioneering study published today in Nature Human Behavior, researchers have uncovered a novel neurochemical mechanism underlying social behavior in humans, shedding new light on the role of dopamine and serotonin in decision-making processes during social interactions.
Led by computational neuroscientist Read Montague from Virginia Tech, an international team of scientists conducted groundbreaking research involving Parkinson’s disease patients undergoing brain surgery. By focusing on the brain’s substantia nigra, a region associated with motor control and reward processing, the researchers elucidated how dopamine and serotonin influence decision-making in social contexts.
The study employed a classic economic game known as the “ultimatum game,” where patients had to accept or reject varying splits of $20 proposed by both human and computer players. Surprisingly, participants were more likely to accept offers from computers while rejecting identical offers from human players, a phenomenon previously observed but not fully understood.
Lead researcher Read Montague explained, “When people know they’re playing a computer, they play perfectly…But when they’re playing a human being, they cannot help themselves. They are often driven to punish the smaller bid by rejecting it.”
The study revealed that dopamine and serotonin play crucial roles in shaping social behavior. Dopamine appears to track changes in offer values relative to previous offers, while serotonin evaluates the current value of specific offers. Interestingly, dopamine levels were significantly higher when interacting with human players, suggesting a heightened sensitivity to fairness and social context.
Dan Bang, associate professor at Aarhus University and co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of measuring serotonin alongside dopamine to understand the brain’s response to social context comprehensively.
The study’s innovative approach involved recording electrochemical signals from patients undergoing surgery, providing real-time insights into neurotransmitter dynamics. By utilizing carbon-fiber electrodes and advanced machine-learning techniques, the researchers successfully decoded the complex interplay between dopamine and serotonin during social interactions.
According to Ken Kishida, co-author and associate professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the study’s findings represent a significant step forward in understanding human cognition and behavior.
Moving forward, the research team aims to leverage their findings to address Parkinson’s disease pathology, which is characterized by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons. By unraveling the intricate relationship between dopamine, serotonin, and social behavior, the study offers promising avenues for developing targeted treatments for neurological disorders.
Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, commended the study’s transformative impact on neuroscience and its potential applications in psychiatry.
The study represents the culmination of over a decade of research efforts aimed at unraveling the mysteries of the human brain. By employing cutting-edge techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration, the researchers have made significant strides in understanding the neural basis of social behavior and decision-making processes.
