Adolescents' Neural Processing of Risky Decisions: Effects of Sex and Behavioral Disinhibition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accidental injury and homicide, relatively common among adolescents, often follow risky behaviors; those are done more by boys and by adolescents with greater behavioral disinhibition (BD).

Hypothesis

Neural processing during adolescents' risky decision-making will differ in youths with greater BD severity, and in males vs. females, both before cautious behaviors and before risky behaviors.

Methodology/principal findings

81 adolescents (PATIENTS with substance and conduct problems, and comparison youths (Comparisons)), assessed in a 2 x 2 design (

Patients

Comparisons x Male:Female) repeatedly decided between doing a cautious behavior that earned 1 cent, or a risky one that either won 5 or lost 10 cents. Odds of winning after risky responses graduall

SUBMITTER: Crowley TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4503769 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature