Toward a Model of Interpersonal Trust Drawn from Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics

Human societies are unique in the level to which interpersonal trust penetrates every facet of our private and public social lives. Theoretical and empirical work has made tremendous strides over the last decade in investigating the neuropsychology of interpersonal trust, but a conceptual framework integrating separate research findings into a neuropsychological model of trust is still lacking. A neuropsychoeconomic framework – combining complementary methodologies from the fields of economics, psychology, and neuroscience – can help to assimilate findings across behavioral, psychological, and neural levels. An integrative model of interpersonal trust is proposed that explains how the interactions of psychoeconomic components engage domain-general large-scale brain networks in shaping trust behavior over time. As the transdisciplinary trust research matures, the proposed framework and model might help to guide future investigations to overcome current research limitations toward a better understanding of the neuropsychological underpinnings of trust. Trust pervades nearly every social aspect of our daily lives, and its disruption is a significant factor in mental illness. Research in the field of neuroeconomics has gained a deeper understanding of the neuropsychoeconomic (NPE) underpinnings of trust by combining complementary methodologies from neuroscience, psychology, and economics. However, a coherent model of trust that integrates separate findings under a conceptual framework is still lacking. Here, we sketch out an integrative NPE model that explains how the interactions of psychoeconomic components engage domain-general large-scale brain networks in shaping trust behavior over time. We also point out caveats of current research approaches and outline open questions that can help guide future transdisciplinary investigations for a better understanding of the neuropsychology of trust. Trust pervades nearly every social aspect of our daily lives, and its disruption is a significant factor in mental illness. Research in the field of neuroeconomics has gained a deeper understanding of the neuropsychoeconomic (NPE) underpinnings of trust by combining complementary methodologies from neuroscience, psychology, and economics. However, a coherent model of trust that integrates separate findings under a conceptual framework is still lacking. Here, we sketch out an integrative NPE model that explains how the interactions of psychoeconomic components engage domain-general large-scale brain networks in shaping trust behavior over time. We also point out caveats of current research approaches and outline open questions that can help guide future transdisciplinary investigations for a better understanding of the neuropsychology of trust. limited rationality (e.g., accessible information, cognitive resources, and available time) for making an optimal decision. trust based on the rational calculation of the costs and benefits of others breaking or maintaining an interdependent relationship. a large-scale network of brain regions that form an integrated system for externally directed cognitive functions (e.g., cognitive control, executive functions, and working memory). state of processes such as thinking, planning, and acting. processes that allow information processing and behavior to vary adaptively (instead of remaining rigid and inflexible) depending on contextualized goals. analysis of the distribution of coordinates from neuroimaging studies to identify brain regions that are consistently activated during a given experimental task. a large-scale network of brain regions that form an integrated system for internally directed cognitive functions (e.g., autobiography, self-monitoring, and social cognition). extrinsic motivation to pursue self-regarding interests by cooperating readily when self-interest and collective interest coincide to reap personal benefits from the group. noninvasive neuroimaging method recording electrical signal detected by electrodes placed at different points of the scalp. the systematic study of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences, where researchers observe society from the point of view of the people involved in the study. noninvasive neuroimaging method measuring hemodynamic (blood oxygen level dependent) response based on the difference between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin levels in the brain arising from changes in local blood flow. in the context of mathematics – a well-defined object of an abstract version of a real-world decision situation, including players of the game, information and actions available to each player, and payoffs for each outcome at each decision point. branch of applied mathematics providing tools for analyzing situations in which players make strategic decisions. trust based on positive emotions for a deeper understanding and identification with others. trust based on acquired knowledge about others’ motives, intentions, and behavioral tendencies. collection of widespread interconnected brain regions across the entire brains that interact to perform circumscribed functions. state in which rewards are sought and punishments are avoided. learning best-action patterns based on reward or punishment that strengthen a person’s future behavior whenever it is preceded by a specific stimulus. attractive and motivational property of a stimulus that induces approach/consummatory behavior. a large-scale network of brain regions that form an integrated system for motivation (e.g., desire, craving for a reward), associative learning (e.g., positive reinforcement, classical conditioning), and positive emotions involving pleasure (e.g., joy, euphoria, and ecstasy). phasic activity of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, signaling a discrepancy between the predicted and currently experienced reward of an event. state of processes on how people assimilate, store, and employ information about other people and social situations. situation involving a conflict between immediate self-interest and longer-term collective interests of counterparts, where a counterpart’s immediate self-interest is tempting, but all counterparts benefit from acting in the longer-term collective interest. exchange by which people react to others and act based on rules, systems, and institutions. intrinsic motivation to pursue other-regarding interests by contributing to group success and valuing group belonging. higher-level plan designed to achieve a long-term or overall goal. betrayal or violation of trust by another person. belief in others’ perceived ability (e.g., possession of a skill), benevolence (e.g., quality of being kind), and integrity (e.g., quality of having strong moral principles). the property of a situation involving insecurity and/or unknown information, such as regarding the prediction of future events. subjective value placed on some goods or actions, which emerges through comparing different reward options to generate a decision.