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Blocking D2/D3 dopamine receptors in male participants increases volatility of beliefs when learning to trust others

Author

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  • Nace Mikus

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna
    Aarhus University)

  • Christoph Eisenegger

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna
    University of Cambridge)

  • Christoph Mathys

    (Aarhus University
    University of Zurich and ETH Zurich
    Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA))

  • Luke Clark

    (University of British, Columbia
    Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia)

  • Ulrich Müller

    (University of Cambridge
    Health & Community Services, Government of Jersey)

  • Trevor W. Robbins

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Claus Lamm

    (Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna)

  • Michael Naef

    (University of Durham)

Abstract

The ability to learn about other people is crucial for human social functioning. Dopamine has been proposed to regulate the precision of beliefs, but direct behavioural evidence of this is lacking. In this study, we investigate how a high dose of the D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride impacts learning about other people’s prosocial attitudes in a repeated Trust game. Using a Bayesian model of belief updating, we show that in a sample of 76 male participants sulpiride increases the volatility of beliefs, which leads to higher precision weights on prediction errors. This effect is driven by participants with genetically conferred higher dopamine availability (Taq1a polymorphism) and remains even after controlling for working memory performance. Higher precision weights are reflected in higher reciprocal behaviour in the repeated Trust game but not in single-round Trust games. Our data provide evidence that the D2 receptors are pivotal in regulating prediction error-driven belief updating in a social context.

Suggested Citation

  • Nace Mikus & Christoph Eisenegger & Christoph Mathys & Luke Clark & Ulrich Müller & Trevor W. Robbins & Claus Lamm & Michael Naef, 2023. "Blocking D2/D3 dopamine receptors in male participants increases volatility of beliefs when learning to trust others," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39823-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39823-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oriel FeldmanHall & Amitai Shenhav, 2019. "Resolving uncertainty in a social world," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(5), pages 426-435, May.
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