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| Research article summary (published 26 May 2009): |
Separate neural mechanisms underlie choices and strategic preferences in risky decision making.
Full Abstract
Adaptive decision making in real-world contexts often relies on strategic simplifications of decision problems. Yet, the neural mechanisms that shape these strategies and their implementation remain largely unknown. Using an economic decision-making task, we dissociate brain regions that predict specific choices from those predicting an individual's preferred strategy. Choices that maximized gains or minimized losses were predicted by functional magnetic resonance imaging activation in ventromedial prefrontal cortex or anterior insula, respectively. However, choices that followed a simplifying strategy (i.e., attending to overall probability of winning) were associated with activation in parietal and lateral prefrontal cortices. Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, through differential functional connectivity with parietal and insular cortex, predicted individual variability in strategic preferences. Finally, we demonstrate that robust decision strategies follow from neural sensitivity to rewards. We conclude that decision making reflects more than compensatory interaction of choice-related regions; in addition, specific brain systems potentiate choices depending on strategies, traits, and context.
Author information
Author/s: Venkatraman, Vinod (V); Payne, John W (JW); Bettman, James R (JR); Luce, Mary Frances (MF); Huettel, Scott A (SA);
Affiliation: Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Grants: NIMH-70685 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; NINDS-41328 (Agency:PHS HHS)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-May; vol 62 (issue 4) : pp 593-602
Dates: Created 2009/05/29; Completed 2009/06/15;
PMID: 19477159, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/15/2009, IMS Date: 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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