This fMRI study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying trust learning in 62 healthy volunteers performing a repeated trust game. Results showed that the central amygdala (CeA) was active during trust behavior planning, while the basolateral amygdala (BLA) was active during outcome evaluation. Stronger CeA and BLA activation for trustworthy players was observed only in participants who learned to differentiate trustworthiness. Nucleus accumbens activity reflected trust reciprocation, independent of learning success. The study highlights the distinct roles of amygdala subnuclei in learning whom to trust.
Publisher
Communications Biology
Published On
Oct 26, 2021
Authors
Ronald Sladky, Federica Riva, Lisa Anna Rosenberger, Jack van Honk, Claus Lamm