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

Nace Mikus (), Christoph Eisenegger, Christoph Mathys, Luke Clark, Ulrich Müller, Trevor W. Robbins, Claus Lamm () and Michael Naef ()
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Nace Mikus: Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna
Christoph Eisenegger: Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna
Christoph Mathys: Aarhus University
Luke Clark: University of British, Columbia
Ulrich Müller: University of Cambridge
Trevor W. Robbins: University of Cambridge
Claus Lamm: Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna
Michael Naef: University of Durham

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39823-5

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