A brain network supporting social influences in human decision-making.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Humans learn through direct trial-and-error and by observing others.
• Understanding how the brain integrates these learning methods in uncertain environments is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the coexistence of direct and social learning.
• To identify how the brain computes expected values when social and individual experiences conflict.

Main Methods:

• A real-time multiplayer reward learning paradigm with 185 participants.
• Computational modeling and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to track valuation processes.
• Analysis of neural representations in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and putamen.

Main Results:

• Individuals adjusted their choices towards the group when presented with dissenting social information.
• Observing confirming social information enhanced individual confidence.
• Dissociable neural representations for direct (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) and vicarious (anterior cingulate cortex) valuation were identified.
• A novel social prediction error signal, distinct from reward prediction error, was found in the putamen, modulated by the right temporoparietal junction.

Conclusions:

• The brain integrates direct and social learning through distinct yet interacting neural circuits.
• A social prediction error mechanism in the putamen contributes to social influence in decision-making.
• An integrated network of reward and social brain regions supports social learning and decision-making.