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Impact of the gut microbiome composition on social decision-making
An increasing body of research indicates that the gut microbiota regulates social and emotional behavior in animals as well as in therapeutic settings. However, gut microbiome composition’s influence on healthy individuals’ social decision-making remains unclear. In this study, Falkenstein et al. (2024) investigated the potential impact of a 7-week synbiotic dietary intervention compared to a placebo on altruistic social punishment behavior in an ultimatum game. The results revealed that participants who underwent the intervention were more willing to sacrifice a monetary reward when faced with unfair treatment. This shift in social decision-making was associated with changes in the levels of tyrosine, a precursor to dopamine, in the fasting-state serum, suggesting a potential mechanistic link between the gut microbiota, brain function, and behavior. These findings contribute to our understanding of the reciprocal relationship between the body, brain, and behavior in social decision-making, shedding light on why humans may sometimes act in ways that defy traditional economic theory. [NPID: ultimatum game, microbiome, social decision-making, gut-brain axis]
Year: 2024
