Decisions are an inherent part of our social lives and vary in complexity as they may range from bargaining over a product at a market, up to merger negotiations in large companies. The main purpose of this study is to gain further understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in decision making in a social context.
Brain function is known to depend upon naturally occurring chemicals (‘neurotransmitters’) that communicate between brain cells. Previous research suggests that the neurotransmitter dopamine plays an important role in decisions about the exchange of money between individuals. Our aim is to examine how the dopaminergic system influences decisions in healthy male volunteers.
Participation: For this study we recruited 78 volunteers from the Cambridge BioResource to attend a single session where they recieved one of three different treatments: either a lower dose (100 mg), a higher dose (800 mg) of a medication that affects dopamine (sulpiride) or an inactive ‘placebo’ capsule.
Organisation: This study is organised by Dr. Ulrich Mueller from the University of Cambridge.
