Neural mechanisms underlying reward processing and social cognition: a replication study with a Japanese sample

Abstract

Neural functions underlying reward processing and social cognition play a critical role in everyday decision-making. Given that these processes may be shaped by cultural factors, it is essential to examine their cross-cultural generalizability. In this study, we used functional MRI to scan native Japanese speakers as they performed two well-established experimental paradigms: the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task for reward processing and the Theory of Mind (ToM) task for social cognition. We successfully replicated previous findings. Specifically, in the MID task, reward expectation and reward outcome were associated with neural activity in the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In the ToM task, social cognition was linked to activation in the temporoparietal junction. Notably, the posterior cingulate cortex was engaged in both tasks, suggesting its integrative role across cognitive domains. Together, these results replicate and extend earlier work, supporting the cross-cultural generalizability of the neural mechanisms underlying reward and social cognition, and further validating our fMRI protocol for future research.