Aberrant neural computation of social controllability in nicotine-dependent humans

TL;DR

The study shows that nicotine-dependent individuals have trouble estimating their influence in social situations, which is linked to brain activity differences.

Contribution

The paper introduces a neurocomputational model linking nicotine dependence to impaired social controllability estimation.

Findings

Smokers underestimated their influence and reported reduced control in social decision-making.

Smokers showed reduced tracking of choice values in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Impaired social prediction error computation was observed in the midbrain of smokers.

Abstract

Social controllability, defined as the ability to exert influence when interacting with others, is crucial for optimal decision-making. Inability to do so might contribute to maladaptive behaviors such as drug use, which often takes place in social settings. Here, we examined nicotine-dependent humans using fMRI, as they made choices that could influence the proposals from simulated partners. Computational modeling revealed that smokers under-estimated the influence of their actions and self-reported a reduced sense of control, compared to non-smokers. These findings were replicated in a large independent sample of participants recruited online. Neurally, smokers showed reduced tracking of forward projected choice values in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and impaired computation of social prediction errors in the midbrain. These results demonstrate that smokers were less accurate in estimating their personal influence when the social environment calls for control, providing a neurocomputational account for the social cognitive deficits in this population.

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