Neural Mechanisms of Reciprocity Availability and Expectancy Violation During Social Interaction

Brain Sci. 2026, 16, 222

NEURAL MECHANISMS OF RECIPROCITY AVAILABILITY AND EXPECTANCY VIOLATION DURING SOCIAL INTERACTION

Daniele Olivo 1,2 , Andrea Di Ciano 3, Lucia Giudetti 3, Riccardo Cazzaro 1 and Fabio Sambataro 1,2,*

1 Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
2 Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy
3 Fondazione Giancarlo Quarta, 20129 Milan, Italy
* Correspondence: fabio.sambataro@unipd.it

Abstract

Background: Reciprocity is a core mechanism of social bonding, signaling whether others are available and willing to provide support. The perception of reciprocity availability fosters trust and belonging, whereas its absence may elicit expectancy violation and negative affect. This study investigated the neural correlates of reciprocity availability (RA) and unavailability (RU) during social interaction. Methods: Thirty healthy adults underwent a social task during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan while viewing short vignettes depicting social exchanges differing in reciprocity cues. Univariate and multivariate (MVPA) analyses were used to identify activation and connectivity patterns associated with RA and RU. Affective responses, reaction times, and personality traits were correlated with neural activity. Results: RA engaged the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, precuneus, temporoparietal junction, and visual cortices. RU elicited greater activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and temporal pole, along with enhanced connectivity between visual and parieto-temporal regions. In exploratory analyses, agreeableness correlated with ventromedial prefrontal activation during RA, whereas depressive temperament correlated with temporal pole activity during RU. Conclusions: Reciprocity availability versus unavailability engages distinct large-scale networks for socio-emotional integration and expectancy monitoring, defining a mechanistic framework for studying disrupted reciprocity in psychopathology.

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https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/16/2/222