Social neuroeconomics: the neural circuitry of social preferences
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
2007/10/01/
Pages:
419 - 427
Sources ID:
48591
Notes:
doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2007.09.002
Collection:
Altruism
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Combining the methods of neuroscience and economics generates powerful tools for studying the brain processes behind human social interaction. We argue that hedonic interpretations of theories of social preferences provide a useful framework that generates interesting predictions and helps interpret brain activations involved in altruistic, fair and trusting behaviors. These behaviors are consistently associated with activation in reward-related brain areas, such as the striatum, and with prefrontal activity implicated in cognitive control, the processing of emotions, and integration of benefits and costs, consistent with resolution of a conflict between self-interest and other-regarding motives.