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Prosocial behavior toward estranged persons modulates the interaction between midline cortical structures and the
Hiroaki Kawamichi1,2,3, Sho K Sugawara2,4,5, Yuki H Hamano2,6
1a Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University , Tokyo , Japan.
Social Neuroscience
|November 29, 2018
Summary
Prosocial behavior towards estranged individuals is linked to a positive self-image, involving brain regions like the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and precuneus. This self-image interaction with the striatum is key for such altruistic actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Good reputation motivates prosocial behavior via indirect reciprocity.
- Prosociality towards estranged individuals, where direct reciprocity is suppressed, is less understood.
- This study explores the neural underpinnings of prosocial behavior towards estranged individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-image, social reward, and prosocial behavior towards estranged individuals.
- To identify the brain regions involved in mediating prosocial behavior towards estranged others.
- To test the hypothesis that self-image and social reward systems interact in prosociality.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used on 21 participants.
- Participants played a virtual ball-toss game after forming negative (estrangement) or neutral impressions of other players.
- Prosocial behavior was measured by the frequency of tossing to isolated players.
Main Results:
- Participants increased prosocial behavior towards all isolated players, regardless of prior impressions.
- Prosocial behavior towards estranged players enhanced positive self-image.
- Anterior medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and precuneus activation increased, with enhanced functional connectivity between the precuneus and striatum.
Conclusions:
- Positive self-image, mediated by midline cortical structures (mPFC, precuneus) and the striatum, is crucial for prosocial behavior towards estranged individuals.
- The findings highlight the role of self-image in motivating altruism even when direct reciprocity is unlikely.
- Neural mechanisms involving self-image and social reward processing underpin prosociality in complex social contexts.
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