title: The neural underpinnings of an optimal exploitation of social information under uncertainty.
abstract: Social information influences decision-making through an integration of information derived from individual experience with that derived from observing the actions of others. This raises the question as to which extent one should utilize social information. One strategy is to make use of uncertainty estimates, leading to a copy-when-uncertain strategy that weights information from individual and social sources based on their respective reliabilities. Here, we investigate this integration process by extending models of Bayes optimal integration of sensory information to a social decision context. We then use a key parameter of our behavioral model in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify the neural substrate that is specifically linked to the fidelity of this integration process. We show that individuals behave near Bayes optimal when integrating two distinct sources of social information but systematically deviate from Bayes optimal choice when integrating individual with social information. This systematic behavioral deviation from optimality is linked to activity of left inferior frontal gyrus. Thus, an ability to optimally exploit social information depends on processes that overcome an egocentric bias, and this regulatory role involves the left inferior prefrontal cortex. The findings provide a mechanistic explanation for observations wherein individuals neglect the benefits from exploiting social information.
authors.affiliation: Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland toelch@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Toelch
authors.affiliation: Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominik R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Zurich University Hospital for Psychiatry, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dolan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Bayes optimal integration; copy-when-uncertain; instrumental control; left inferior frontal gyrus; prefrontal cortex; social information