Neural correlates of social exchanges during the Prisoner’s Dilemma game in depression

V. B. Gradin (Lead / Corresponding author), A. Pérez, J. A. Macfarlane, I. Cavin, G. Waiter, E. B. Tone, B. Dritschel, A. Maiche, J. D. Steele

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    Abstract

    BackgroundDepression is a disabling disorder that significantly impacts on the interpersonal functioning of individuals. However, little is known about the neural substrates of such difficulties. In the last few years neuroeconomics, which combines imaging with multiplayer behavioural economic paradigms, has been used to study the neural substrates of normal and abnormal interpersonal interactions.
    MethodThis study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neural activity in unmedicated depressed participants (n = 25) and matched healthy controls (n = 25). During scanning, participants played a behavioural economic game, the Prisoner's Dilemma. In this game, the participant and a co-player independently choose either to cooperate or not cooperate with each other.
    ResultsDepressed participants reported higher levels of negative feelings (betrayal, guilt) during the game than did controls. Neural activation was compared between ‘imbalanced’ events [when one of the players cooperated and the other defected (‘CD’ and ‘DC’)] and ‘draw’ events [when both players either cooperated or defected (‘CC’ and ‘DD’)]. Participants preferentially activated the anterior insula and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region implicated in cognitive control and regulation of emotions. Importantly, compared to controls depressed participants showed reduced activation in the left DLPFC, with the extent of signal reduction correlating with increased self-report feelings of guilt associated with DC outcomes.
    ConclusionsOur findings suggest that depression is associated with reduced activation of the DLPFC during social events that involve unreciprocated cooperation. This abnormality may underlie anomalies in cognitive control and top-down regulation of emotions during challenging social exchanges.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1289-1300
    Number of pages12
    JournalPsychological Medicine
    Volume46
    Issue number6
    Early online date14 Jan 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

    Keywords

    • Depression
    • fMRI
    • neuroeconomics
    • Prisoner's Dilemma

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Psychiatry and Mental health
    • Applied Psychology

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