Genetic variation of dopamine and serotonin function modulates the feedback-related negativity during altruistic punishment

Abstract

Why do humans cooperate and often punish norm violations of others? In the present study, we sought to investigate the genetic bases of altruistic punishment (AP), which refers to the costly punishment of norm violations with potential benefit for other individuals. Recent evidence suggests that norm violations and unfairness are indexed by the feedback-related negativity (FRN), an anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) generated neural response to expectancy violations. Given evidence on the role of serotonin and dopamine in AP as well as in FRN-generation, we explored the impact of genetic variation of serotonin and dopamine function on FRN and AP behavior in response to unfair vs. fair monetary offers in a Dictator Game (DG) with punishment option. In a sample of 45 healthy participants we observed larger FRN amplitudes to unfair DG assignments both for 7-repeat allele carriers of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III polymorphism and for l/l-genotype carriers of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLRP). Moreover, 5-HTTLPR l/l-genotype carriers punished unfair offers more strongly. These findings support the role of serotonin and dopamine in AP, potentially via their influence on neural mechanisms implicated in the monitoring of expectancy violations and their relation to impulsive and punishment behavior.

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism impacts moral permissibility of impersonal harmful behaviors

“…For the outcome-focused moral judgment, individuals tend to be concerned about the norm of saving more people by sacrificing one person and thus rate impersonal action harm as less norm violation (Greene et al ., 2001). With regard to the roles of 5-HTTLPR in moral behaviors, the S allele of the 5-HTTLPR has been related to the high permissibility for unfair dictator assignments of the Dictator Game (Enge et al ., 2017), which suggests that the S allele could promote permissibility of preserving one’s well-being by sacrificing other’s interests. Here, we found that individuals with the SS genotype are more likely to rate impersonal action harms as permissibility.…”

“…Here, we found that individuals with the SS genotype are more likely to rate impersonal action harms as permissibility. Thus, given the link of the S allele with high permissibility for dictator assignments (Enge et al ., 2017), the roles of the S allele 5-HTTLPR in increasing permissibility of impersonal harms may be attributed to its effect on decreasing injustice sense of utilitarian outcomes.…”

Translational genomic research: the role of genetic polymorphisms in MBSR program among breast cancer survivors (MBSR[BC])

“…Currently, there are several genetic testing panels, using SNPs identified in genome-wide association studies, available for certain diseases [13][14][15]. However, only a few studies were performed on symptom outcomes and individual genomics [20][21][22]. Because of the complexity, such as outcome variables, sample size, and different distribution of genotypes in different racial populations, conducting translational behavioral investigation is challenging.…”

Cumulative Dopamine Genetic Score predicts behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition via interactions with task demand

“…Genotypes included in further analysis were in Hardy-Weinberg-Equilibrium (HWE): DRD4 VNTR: χ 2 = 25.40; df = 15; p = .092; DAT1 VNTR: χ 2 = 1.50, df = 3, p = .45; COMT val158met: χ 2 = 0.71; df = 1, p = .48. HWE calculations were made using the HWxtest package (Engels, 2014) for R core.…”