The neuroscience of conformity: How social pressure biases value-based decision-making

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Social signals—for example, approval, disapproval, or perceived norms of groups—are very important in our decisions. Not surprisingly, interest in the role of social conformity within a connected society on the individual's choice-making process has been in the eye of the public. Knowing the neurobiological bases of this behavior may provide important insights into human cognition. Computation of social signals within brain regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, estimating feedback from others, and adjusting one's behavior is crucial. While it is well researched, the particular neural pathways through which social conformity influences value-based decision-making remain unknown. This knowledge gap prevents the construction of complete models of how the social environment influences economic decisions and risk-taking behaviors. Addressing this challenge, studies were reviewed using neuroimaging, electrophysiological measurements, and computational modeling to outline shared neural mechanisms of social conformity and their impact on decision-making. The present paper reviews these findings, describes experimental methodologies, and discusses how social feedback is integrated into the brain's decision-making circuitry. Emphasizing the integration of these insights into broader social neuroscience questions, the study tries to bridge gaps in understanding how social pressure affects decision processes. The main brain areas involved in social conformity include the caudate nucleus, the subgenual ACC, and the vmPFC. These regions are involved with processing social rewards and punishments, monitoring social conflict, and predicting social outcomes. Future work should further examine neural pathways and computational models of social conformance, with possible interventions to modulate these neural responses.