替代性乐观偏向的认知和神经机制

Our recent work has shown a pervasive optimistic learning bias, i.e., people tend to incorporate desirable (better than expected) feedback into their beliefs but to discount undesirable (worse than expected) feedback. Such optimistic updating has evolved as an advantageous mechanism for social adaptation. Intranasal administration of oxytocin enhances optimistic bias, suggesting a molecular substrate for optimistic belief updating (Ma et al., 2016, PNAS). The current project will investigate whether the concern people feel for others leads them to systematically bias their learning about these others, exhibiting vicarious optimism. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, including state-of-the-art functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conjunction with pharmacological challenge, novel experimental paradigms, computational modeling and cutting-edge multivariate analytic methods of brain representations, we aim to reveal 1) the behavioral and neural evidence supporting vicarious optimism; 2) the modulation effect of moral characteristics and optimistic level on vicarious optimism; 3) oxytocin effects on vicarious optimism; and 4) deficits in vicarious optimism in people with depression. Findings of this project will significantly advance our understanding of vicarious optimism at behavioral, neural and molecular levels. Our findings will have important clinical implications for oxytocin potentials in the treatment of depression.

人们对反馈信息的学习存在普遍的乐观偏向：对积极信息的学习偏向。我们近期工作表明这种乐观偏向具有适应意义及催产素在其中的作用(Ma et al., 2016, PNAS)。本项目探讨个体是否会“替代性”地对他人产生乐观偏向——替代性乐观偏向？“替代性”对于个体理解他人、促进社会关系具有重要意义，但已有研究主要针对情感性的替代，而未知的是认知层面的可替代性。本项目拟融合脑成像技术、鼻喷催产素、计算建模、抑郁症患者等，检验以下科学假设：1）个体对他人同样存在乐观偏向，且与自我乐观偏向共享神经活动；2）替代客体的道德特质、替代主体的乐观程度均会影响替代性乐观偏向；3）催产素能提升替代性乐观偏向；4）抑郁个体存在替代性乐观偏向的缺失，但可被催产素及乐观状态启动改善。本项目预期研究成果将有助于系统理解替代性乐观偏向的认知神经机制，为有效干预相关心理障碍提供科学依据，具有重要科学意义和社会价值。

人们对反馈信息的学习存在普遍的乐观偏向：对积极信息的学习偏向。我们近期工作表明这种乐观偏向具有适应意义及催产素在其中的作用(Ma et al., 2016, PNAS)。本项目探讨个体是否会“替代性”地对他人产生乐观偏向——替代性乐观偏向？“替代性”对于个体理解他人、促进社会关系具有重要意义，但已有研究主要针对情感性的替代，而未知的是认知层面的可替代性。本项目拟融合脑成像技术、鼻喷催产素、计算建模、抑郁症患者等，检验以下科学假设：1）个体对他人同样存在乐观偏向，且与自我乐观偏向共享神经活动；2）替代客体的道德特质、替代主体的乐观程度均会影响替代性乐观偏向；3）催产素能提升替代性乐观偏向；4）抑郁个体存在替代性乐观偏向的缺失，但可被催产素及乐观状态启动改善。本项目预期研究成果将有助于系统理解替代性乐观偏向的认知神经机制，为有效干预相关心理障碍提供科学依据，具有重要科学意义和社会价值。