Study Unveils How Brain Chemicals Influence Social Decisions

Research on Parkinson's patients during surgery reveals dopamine and serotonin's roles in social behavior.

A groundbreaking study reveals how dopamine and serotonin influence social behavior, using Parkinson's disease patients as subjects.
The research, conducted during awake brain surgery, shows these chemicals play a crucial role in decision-making in social contexts.
Dopamine tracks whether an offer is better or worse than previous ones, while serotonin assesses the value of each offer independently.
This neurochemical interplay is more pronounced in interactions involving fairness with other humans, suggesting a key role in assessing social situations.
The findings could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease and other brain disorders, offering insights into the neurochemical basis of social behavior.