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A gene–brain–behavior basis for familiarity bias in source preference

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Robin Chark at University of Macau
Robin Chark
Songfa Zhong at National University of Singapore
Songfa Zhong
Shui Ying Tsang
Shui Ying Tsang
Shui Ying Tsang
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Chiea Chuen Khor
Chiea Chuen Khor
Chiea Chuen Khor
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Abstract and Figures

Source preference in which equally distributed risks may be valued differently has been receiving increasing attention. Using subjects recruited in Berkeley, Fox and Tversky (1995) demonstrate a familiarity bias in source preference—betting on a less than even-chance event based on San Francisco temperature is valued more than betting on a better than even-chance event based on Istanbul temperature. Neophobia is associated with the amygdala which is GABA-rich and is known to be modulated by benzodiazepines as anxiolytic agents that enhance the activity of the GABAA receptor in processing anxiety and fear. This leads to our hypothesis that familiarity bias in decision making may be explained by polymorphic variations in this receptor mediated by anxiety regulation in the amygdala. In two companion studies involving Beijing-based subjects, we examine 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GABRB2 (coding for GABAA receptor, beta 2 subunit) and find 7 SNPs each showing negative association between familiarity bias—preference for betting on parity of Beijing temperature over Tokyo temperature—and having at least one minor allele (less than 50% prevalence). In an imaging genetics study of a subsample of subjects based on the SNP with the most balanced allelic distribution, we find that subjects’ familiarity bias in terms of risk aversion towards bets on the parity of the temperature of 20 Chinese cities is negatively associated with their post-scanning familiarity ratings of the cities only for those with no minor allele in this SNP. Moreover, familiarity bias is positively associated with activation in the right amygdala along with the brain’s attention networks. Overall, our findings help discriminate between ambiguity aversion and familiarity bias in source preference and supports our gene–brain–behavior hypothesis of GABAergic modulation of amygdala activation in response to familiarity towards the source of uncertainty.
Bubble plot of odds ratio of choosing the familiar bet over the unfamiliar bet against the instances of the presence of minor allele in the seven SNPs (n = 325). The size of the bubble and the number on the bubble represent the number of subjects. The probability of choosing the Beijing bet decreases with an increased presence of minor alleles
Bubble plot of odds ratio of choosing the familiar bet over the unfamiliar bet against the instances of the presence of minor allele in the seven SNPs (n = 325). The size of the bubble and the number on the bubble represent the number of subjects. The probability of choosing the Beijing bet decreases with an increased presence of minor alleles
… 
Timeline of a trial in study 2. In each trial, the subject chose between an even chance lottery and receiving a specific amount of money for sure. The even chance lottery was about a bet on the odd or even of the trailing digit of the temperature of a Chinese city (out of 20 with varying familiarity) on a date randomly drawn from the past twelve months. The prizes of a correct guess ranged between RMB150 and RMB250. An incorrect guess would yield RMB0. In the first six seconds, subjects are shown the city name and the prize of the lottery. After 1.5–2.5 s random jitter, subjects have up to 5 s to choose between the lottery and a sure amount (25–60% of the prize) as shown on the screen
Timeline of a trial in study 2. In each trial, the subject chose between an even chance lottery and receiving a specific amount of money for sure. The even chance lottery was about a bet on the odd or even of the trailing digit of the temperature of a Chinese city (out of 20 with varying familiarity) on a date randomly drawn from the past twelve months. The prizes of a correct guess ranged between RMB150 and RMB250. An incorrect guess would yield RMB0. In the first six seconds, subjects are shown the city name and the prize of the lottery. After 1.5–2.5 s random jitter, subjects have up to 5 s to choose between the lottery and a sure amount (25–60% of the prize) as shown on the screen
… 
Behavioral results of study 2. Choice probabilities of the lotteries of familiar and unfamiliar cities broken down by genotypes (n = 37). For illustration purposes, lotteries were classified into familiar (white bars) and unfamiliar (black bars) by performing a median split on subjects’ reported familiarity ratings of the cities. Error bars represented one standard error. Subjects in the Major Group exhibited greater familiarity bias by choosing lotteries involving familiar cities more often than those in the Minor Group (see Table 6)
Behavioral results of study 2. Choice probabilities of the lotteries of familiar and unfamiliar cities broken down by genotypes (n = 37). For illustration purposes, lotteries were classified into familiar (white bars) and unfamiliar (black bars) by performing a median split on subjects’ reported familiarity ratings of the cities. Error bars represented one standard error. Subjects in the Major Group exhibited greater familiarity bias by choosing lotteries involving familiar cities more often than those in the Minor Group (see Table 6)
… 
The amygdala sensitivity predicted the behavioral sensitivity to familiarity. A Coronal view of the neural activity in the right amygdala correlated positively with the degree of familiarity bias, as indexed by the estimated γi’s (puncorrected < .001, k ≥ 10). B Scatter plot showing the ROI result of the activated cluster in the right amygdala (n = 37). The correlation between individuals’ behavioral sensitivity to familiarity and the amygdala sensitivity to unfamiliarity was significant (Spearman’s ρ = .5138, p < .002)
The amygdala sensitivity predicted the behavioral sensitivity to familiarity. A Coronal view of the neural activity in the right amygdala correlated positively with the degree of familiarity bias, as indexed by the estimated γi’s (puncorrected < .001, k ≥ 10). B Scatter plot showing the ROI result of the activated cluster in the right amygdala (n = 37). The correlation between individuals’ behavioral sensitivity to familiarity and the amygdala sensitivity to unfamiliarity was significant (Spearman’s ρ = .5138, p < .002)
… 
SNP rs1816072 predicted the amygdala and dlPFC sensitivity towards unfamiliarity. A The glass brain view shows that only two regions—amygdala and dlPFC—exhibited both relationships: (1) correlation with degrees of familiarity bias, and (2) difference between the two genotypes. B Bar chart showing the difference in the brain sensitivity between the two genotype groups. The Major Group showed significantly higher sensitivity towards unfamiliarity than the Minor Group
+1
SNP rs1816072 predicted the amygdala and dlPFC sensitivity towards unfamiliarity. A The glass brain view shows that only two regions—amygdala and dlPFC—exhibited both relationships: (1) correlation with degrees of familiarity bias, and (2) difference between the two genotypes. B Bar chart showing the difference in the brain sensitivity between the two genotype groups. The Major Group showed significantly higher sensitivity towards unfamiliarity than the Minor Group
… 
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A gene–brain–behavior basis for familiarity bias in source
preference
Robin Chark
1
•Songfa Zhong
2
•Shui Ying Tsang
3
•Chiea Chuen Khor
4
•
Richard P. Ebstein
5
•Hong Xue
6
•Soo Hong Chew
2,5
Accepted: 16 January 2022 / Published online: 31 March 2022
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
2022
Abstract
Source preference in which equally distributed risks may be valued differently has
been receiving increasing attention. Using subjects recruited in Berkeley, Fox and
Tversky (1995) demonstrate a familiarity bias in source preference—betting on a
less than even-chance event based on San Francisco temperature is valued more
than betting on a better than even-chance event based on Istanbul temperature.
Neophobia is associated with the amygdala which is GABA-rich and is known to be
modulated by benzodiazepines as anxiolytic agents that enhance the activity of the
GABA
A
receptor in processing anxiety and fear. This leads to our hypothesis that
familiarity bias in decision making may be explained by polymorphic variations in
this receptor mediated by anxiety regulation in the amygdala. In two companion
studies involving Beijing-based subjects, we examine 10 single nucleotide poly-
morphisms (SNPs) of GABRB2 (coding for GABA
A
receptor, beta 2 subunit) and
find 7 SNPs each showing negative association between familiarity bias—prefer-
ence for betting on parity of Beijing temperature over Tokyo temperature—and
having at least one minor allele (less than 50% prevalence). In an imaging genetics
study of a subsample of subjects based on the SNP with the most balanced allelic
distribution, we find that subjects’ familiarity bias in terms of risk aversion towards
bets on the parity of the temperature of 20 Chinese cities is negatively associated
with their post-scanning familiarity ratings of the cities only for those with no minor
allele in this SNP. Moreover, familiarity bias is positively associated with activation
in the right amygdala along with the brain’s attention networks. Overall, our find-
ings help discriminate between ambiguity aversion and familiarity bias in source
preference and supports our gene–brain–behavior hypothesis of GABAergic mod-
ulation of amygdala activation in response to familiarity towards the source of
uncertainty.
Keywords Familiarity bias Ambiguity aversion GABA Genetics
Neuroimaging Decision making Amygdala Attention networks
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
123
Theory and Decision (2022) 92:531–567
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-022-09871-2(0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().,-volV)
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... Boundarybased preferences can be deeply embodied in neurology [50,51]. They can entail related preferences for the similar [52,53] and for the familiar [54,55]. Preferences for similar people within familiar situations can become strongly related through homophily whereby, metaphorically, birds of a feather seek to flock together, for example via so called Internet echo chambers [56,57]. ...
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