Group Membership Modulates the Neural Circuitry Underlying Third Party Punishment

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 11;11(11):e0166357. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166357. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Altruism*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Games, Experimental
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Parietal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Punishment / psychology*
  • Temporal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the University of Turin through project 2015 Action B "Neural correlates involved in punishment and reward behavior. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.