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

Mikus, Nace; Eisenegger, Christoph; Mathys, Christoph; Clark, Luke; Müller, Ulrich; Robbins, Trevor W.; Lamm, Claus; Naef, Michael

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.

Citation

Mikus, N., Eisenegger, C., Mathys, C., Clark, L., Müller, U., Robbins, T. W., …Naef, M. (2023). Blocking D2/D3 dopamine receptors in male participants increases volatility of beliefs when learning to trust others. Nature Communications, 14(1), Article 4049. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39823-5

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 8, 2023
• Publication Date: Jul 8, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 18, 2023
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 4049
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39823-5
• Keywords: General Physics and Astronomy; General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; General Chemistry; Multidisciplinary
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1721251