Group Membership Modulates the Neural Circuitry Underlying Third Party Punishment.
This research aims to explore the neural correlates involved in altruistic punishment, parochial altruism and anti-social punishment, using the Third-Party Punishment (TPP) game. In particular, this study considered these punishment behaviors in in-group vs. out-group game settings, to compare how people behave with members of their own national group and with members of another national group. The results showed that participants act altruistically to protect in-group members. This study indicates that norm violation in in-group (but not in out-group) settings results in increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction, brain regions involved in the mentalizing network, as the third-party attempts to understand or justify in-group members' behavior. Finally, exploratory analysis during anti-social punishment behavior showed brain activation recruitment of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, an area associated with altered regulation of emotions.
Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
Rosalba
R
Morese
Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Daniela
D
Rabellino
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Sciences (DISM), University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Fabio
F
Sambataro
Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Felice
F
Perussia
Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital-Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.
Maria Consuelo
MC
Valentini
Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of Turin, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Bruno G
BG
Bara
Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of Turin, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Francesca M
FM
Bosco
D000328:Adult; D000533:Altruism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*