Behavioral and neural control in relation to risky decision-making in adolescents

Keywords

No Thumbnail Available

Issue Date

2019-06-25

Language

en

Document type

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Title

ISSN

Volume

Issue

Startpage

Endpage

DOI

Abstract

In adults, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) downregulates emotional responses coming from the amygdala. During adolescence, increased risk-taking has been linked to a neural imbalance between the PFC and the faster-maturing amygdala. Likewise, emotional control depends on amygdala downregulation by the anterior PFC (aPFC). However, the relationship between emotional control and risk-taking is still unknown. In the present study, the relationship between affective and deliberate risk-taking (measured by means of the Columbia Card Task) and emotional control was investigated. Emotional control during the fMRI version of the social Approach Avoidance Task was measured on a behavioral level (RTs) and on a neural level (amygdala and aPFC activity). A negative relation between emotional control and risk-taking behavior was hypothesized. Bayesian multilevel analysis revealed that increased aPFC activity during emotional control was related to decreased risk-taking, and that this effect was driven by females. Suggestions for future research are made.

Description

Citation

Faculty

Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen

Programme