Risk taking behaviour (biological)

Question 1

what are the key brain regions that are involved in risk taking behaviour?

Answer 1

ventral striatum (rewards) and pre-frontal cortex (decisions)

Question 2

how does the ventral striatum develop and what are its key features?

Answer 2

• develops between childhood and adolescence
• linked to rewards and the dopamine system
• adolescents cannot inhibit responses due to underdeveloped PFC and have higher activation

Question 3

how does the pre-frontal cortex develop and what are its key features?

Answer 3

• 10-20 = critical period - fully developed by 25
• emotion regulation and decision making
• ability to act socially acceptable
• lack of development in adolescents = risk taking behaviour

Question 4

What are key facts about risk taking behaviour?

Answer 4

• insecurity in adolescents = more likely to risk take e.g., drinking alcohol
• not only adolescents - young children - may be due to inherited traits
• reduction in serotonin = stress = impulsivity (monkey research)
• there are some people who think about consequences but take risks anyway = oppose BL&G

Question 5

What are examples of risk taking behaviour?

Answer 5

• drinking
• smoking
• gambling

Question 6

what is subjective value?

Answer 6

the value that an individual places on a stimulus

Question 7

what is expected value?

Answer 7

mean of all possible values e.g., higher EV = higher chance of winning
high ev = high chance of risk taking

Question 8

What are ontogenic differences?

Answer 8

the idea that the brain develops with age