Role of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Contextual Neural Coding of Self-Reward and Relationship with Just-world Belief

In this study, we aimed to disentangle the neural correlates underlying reward processes and social decision-making since previous findings have been inconsistent. Specifically, we manipulated share sizes of dictator games (DG) and examined the brain activation in response to absolute/relative value of reward for self/other with fMRI. Then, we collected data regarding willingness and preference for making these offers in a post-scan behavioral task. Furthermore, we examined how elicited neural activities vary with individual differences from the aspect of self-benefit, altruism, and social context.

本研究旨在厘清奖赏加工与社会决策背后的神经关联机制，鉴于既往相关研究结论存在不一致性。具体而言，我们对独裁者博弈（Dictator Game, DG）中的分配份额进行操纵，并采用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）考察被试在面对针对自身与他人的奖赏绝对价值与相对价值时的脑激活模式。随后，在扫描后的行为任务中，我们收集了被试做出此类分配提议的意愿与偏好相关数据。此外，本研究还从自我获益、利他主义与社会情境三个维度，探究所诱发的神经活动如何随个体差异发生变化。