Focal stimulation of the temporoparietal junction improves rationality in prosocial decision-making.

Scientific Reports
Flora LiAlec Smith

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that modulation of neurocomputational inputs to value-based decision-making affects the rationality of economic choices. The brain's right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) has been functionally associated with both social behavior and with domain-general information processing and attention. To identify the causal function of rTPJ in prosocial decisions, we administered focal high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) while participants allocated money between themselves and a charity in a modified dictator game. Anodal stimulation led to improved rationality as well as increased charitable giving and egalitarianism, resulting in more consistent and efficient choices and increased sensitivity to the price of giving. These results are consistent with the theory that anodal stimulation of the rTPJ increases the precision of value computations in social decision-making. Our results demonstrate that theories of rTPJ function should account for the multifaceted role of the rTPJ in the representation of social inputs into value-based decisions.

References

May 8, 2002·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Maurizio Corbetta, Gordon L Shulman
Mar 1, 1956·Psychological Review·H A SIMON
Feb 11, 2005·Journal of Neurophysiology·Gustavo Deco, Edmund T Rolls
Sep 27, 1974·Science·A Tversky, D Kahneman
Apr 17, 2008·Behavioural Neurology·Alberto CostaCarlo Caltagirone
May 10, 2008·Neuron·Maurizio CorbettaGordon L Shulman
Apr 28, 2009·Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·Marom BiksonMaged Elwassif
Mar 31, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Liane YoungRebecca Saxe
Nov 12, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Davide ReatoLucas C Parra
Jun 11, 2011·Journal of Neural Engineering·Jacek P DmochowskiLucas C Parra
Aug 16, 2011·Brain Stimulation·Paulo Sergio BoggioAlberto Priori
Nov 6, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Idalmis SantiestebanGeoffrey Bird
Jul 28, 2013·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·John A Clithero, Antonio Rangel
Jul 8, 2014·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Leonor J Romero LauroGiuseppe Vallar
Jun 16, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Peter H DonaldsonPeter G Enticott
Jul 17, 2015·Neuron·Cendri A HutchersonAntonio Rangel
Aug 21, 2015·Nature Communications·Rafael PolaníaChristian C Ruff
Jan 2, 2016·Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences·Kenway LouieRyan Webb
Jan 8, 2016·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Hannah TickleChristopher Summerfield
Apr 29, 2016·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Anita TuscheTania Singer
Sep 22, 2016·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Michiel van ElkHein van Schie
Feb 18, 2017·Dose-response : a Publication of International Hormesis Society·James GiordanoEdward Calabrese
Apr 12, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Michel André MaréchalChristian C Ruff
Jul 12, 2017·Nature Neuroscience·Christopher A HillChristian C Ruff
Oct 7, 2017·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Hui-Kuan ChungPaul Glimcher
Jan 10, 2018·Nature Neuroscience·Rafael PolaníaChristian C Ruff
Jan 11, 2018·Nature Communications·Dakota E McCoyRichard O Prum
Mar 17, 2018·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Neil E O'ConnellBenedict M Wand
Apr 20, 2018·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Nils H Pixa, Bettina Pollok
Dec 19, 2018·Nature Neuroscience·Rafael PolaníaChristian C Ruff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

GARP
FASWVA
SimNibs
WARP
MATLAB
Psychtoolbox
Soterix

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.