What motivates repayment? Neural correlates of reciprocity in the Trust Game

Abstract

Reciprocity of trust is important for social interaction and depends on individual differences in social value orientation (SVO). Here, we examined the neural correlates of reciprocity by manipulating two factors that influence reciprocal behavior: (1) the risk that the trustor took when trusting and (2) the benefit for the trustee when being trusted. FMRI results showed that anterior Medial Prefrontal Frontal Cortex (aMPFC) was more active when participants defected relative to when participants reciprocated, but was not sensitive to manipulations of risk and benefit or individual differences in SVO. However, activation in the temporal-parietal-junction (rTPJ), bilateral anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was modulated by individual differences in SVO. In addition, these regions were differentially sensitive to manipulations of risk for the trustor when reciprocating. In contrast, the ACC and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were sensitive to the benefit for the trustee when reciprocating. Together, the results of this study provide more insight in how several brain regions work together when individuals reciprocate trust, by showing how these regions are differentially sensitive to reciprocity motives and perspective-taking.

Using Psycho-physiological Interaction Analysis with fMRI Data in IS Research: A Guideline

“…In line with neuroscientific research on trust processes (see Table A1) and existing procedures of meuroIS that analyze fMRI data by using different contrasts (Dimoka, 2012), we found similar activation patterns in regions associated with limbic structures (i.e., the anterior cingulate cortex (Baumgartner et al, 2008;Bereczkei et al, 2013;Bos et al, 2009;King-Casas et al, 2005), prefrontal brain areas (i.e., orbitofrontal cortex (oFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)) (Aimone et al, 2014;Baumgartner et al, 2008;Bos et al, 2009;Delgado et al, 2005;King-Casas et al, 2005;Krueger et al, 2007;Winston et al, 2002), and major structures of the striatum, such as the putamen and caudate (Baumgartner et al 2008;Delgado et al, 2006;Fareri et al, 2012;Phan et al 2010). …”

“…Van den Bos, van Dijk, Westenberg, Rombouts, & Crone (2009) 22 (11/11) / trust game Examination of the neural correlates of reciprocity by manipulating two factors that influence reciprocal behavior: (1) the risk that the trustor took when trusting and (2) the benefit for the trustee when being trusted.…”

The neural basis of the Machiavellians’ decision making in fair and unfair situations

“…This area has a general role in the evaluation of reward information and the acceptance of personal moral violation. (van den Bos, van Dijk, Westenberg, Rombouts, & Crone, 2009).…”

Neural correlates of Machiavellian strategies in a social dilemma task

“…Different types of trust evoke different activity patters: conditional trust (one's partner is self-interested) selectively activated the ventral tegmental area, whereas unconditional trust (one's partner is trustworthy) activated the septal area (Krueger et al, 2007). Also individual differences in social value orientation were found to modulate activation in temporal-parietal-junction, bilateral anterior insula, and anterior cingulate cortex (van den Bos, van Dijk, Westenberg, Rombouts, & Crone, 2009).…”