The neurobiology of social decision-making

Humans live in highly complex social environments and some of our most important decisions are made in the context of social interactions. Research that probes the neural basis of decision-making in the context of social interactions combines behavioral paradigms from game theory with a variety of methods from neuroscience. The neural correlates of decision making in reciprocal exchange and bargaining games have been probed with functional neuroimaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and pharmacological manipulations. These studies have begun to elucidate a set of brain regions and neurotransmitter systems involved in decision-making in social interactions.