I am happy for us: Neural processing of vicarious joy when winning for parents versus strangers

Abstract

This study investigated the neural processes underlying vicarious joy and their dependence on emotional closeness. Prior studies revealed that the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is a target brain region for processing rewards for self, but the neural mechanisms of processing rewards for others are not yet well understood. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm was employed in young adults (N = 30), in combination with a self-report questionnaire on the perceived emotional closeness to the target. We examined the neural correlates of vicarious rewards when winning money for oneself or one of three other targets. To examine family relationships, two of the targets were the mother and father of the participants, and the third target was an unknown stranger. We found an increase in activation in the NAcc when playing for family members compared with a stranger. We further observed a difference in neural activation when winning for the father compared with the mother in an extended network involving the medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus, brain regions involved in mentalizing. These findings were not related to reports of emotional closeness. This new paradigm has considerable value for future research into the fundamental neural processes underlying empathy and vicarious joy.

Increased ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity in adolescence benefits prosocial reinforcement learning

“…First, prosocial learning was restricted to unknown others and should be extended in future research to other beneficiaries. Previous studies have shown that prosocial behaviors and their neural correlates in adolescence strongly depend on the beneficiary (e.g., (Brandner et al, 2020;Schreuders et al, 2018;Westhoff et al, 2020). Whether such differences between beneficiaries are also visible in prosocial learning and the concurrent neural tracking of PEs, is an interesting question for future studies.…”

Happy for Us not Them: Differences in neural activation in a vicarious reward task between family and strangers during adolescent development

“…Furthermore, a prior study found similar activation patterns for a close friend receiving a reward compared with a personal reward but no vicarious reward response was observed when a stranger received a reward ( Braams et al, 2014 ). In a recent study in adults, we have also shown that in the NAcc vicarious reward activation for parents is more similar to personal reward responses compared to vicarious reward activation for strangers ( Brandner et al, 2020 ).…”

“…In this study, we investigated the relationship between neural vicarious reward processing and cooperative behavior for family members and strangers across adolescence. Vicarious reward responses were measured through self-reports of pleasure from winning for others and NAcc responses during a false-choice fMRI task ( Brandner et al, 2020 ) that was played with three targets: mothers, fathers, and strangers. These vicarious reward measures were related to cooperative behavior assessed by the prisoner’s dilemma (PDG) and social dilemma (SDG) games.…”

“…In the current study, an adapted version of the COSY (Charity or Self Yield) task was used to investigate the neural underpinnings of vicarious reward processes ( Spaans et al, 2018b ; Brandner et al, 2020 ). Before the scanning session, participants were instructed that they would play a game with their mother, their father, and a stranger, who was explained to be another anonymous participant of the study.…”

“…We explored whether similar effects were observed for the SDG task. Although not pre-registered, based on our prior study in adults ( Brandner et al, 2020 ), we expected that vicarious rewards in the NAcc would be larger for mothers than fathers. Additionally, we included one exploratory vmPFC ROI analysis that was not pre-registered but added valuable context of vicarious reward processing above and beyond the NAcc.…”