Group membership modulates the hold-up problem: an event-related potentials and oscillations study
Su Hao, Qing Xin, Zhang Xiaomin, Pan Jiali, Wang Xiaoqin, Yu Rong, Zhang Cenlin
Abstract
This paper investigates the neural mechanism that underlies the effect of group identity on hold-up problems. The behavioral results indicated that the investment rate among members of the in-group was significantly higher than that of the out-group. In comparison to the NoChat treatment, the Chat treatment resulted in significantly lower offers for both in-group and out-group members. The event-related potentials (ERP) results demonstrated the presence of a distinct N2 component in the frontal midline of the brain when investment decisions were made for both in-group and out-group members. During the offer decision-making stage, the P3 peak amplitude was significantly larger when interacting with in-group members compared to the out-group members. The event-related potentials oscillations (ERO) results indicated that when investment decisions were made for in-group members in the NoChat treatment, the beta band (18-28 Hz, 250-350 ms) power was more pronounced than when decisions were made for out-group members. In the NoChat treatment, offer decisions for in-group members yielded a more pronounced difference in beta band (15-20 Hz, 200-300 ms) power when compared to out-group members. Evidence from this study suggests that group identity can reduce the hold-up problem and corroborates the neural basis of group identity.