Why teens take risks ... : a neurocognitive analysis of developmental changes and individual differences in decision-making under risk

Abstract

The research described in this thesis aimed to gain insight in risky behavior in adolescence, by examining the development of decision-making in relation to brain development. Chapter 1 describes two existing possible explanations for adolescent risky behavior, the first explanation focuses on the development of cognitive control, and states that adolescents’ immature ability to control their impulses may bias them to act risky. The second explanation focuses on emotional/motivational processes, and suggests that adolescents engage in risky behavior because they respond stronger to the possible rewards associated with risks than children and adults do. Chapters 2, 3, and 7 describe studies on developmental changes in the processes that form the building blocks of more complex decision-making under risk; probability estimation, reward processing and working memory. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 explore the relative contributions of reward sensitivity and cognitive control to decision-making across development. This thesis shows knowledge about brain maturation can inform models of adolescent risky behavior. And that adolescent risk-taking can be explained as the consequence of the earlier maturation of reward related relative to cognitive control related brain circuitry.LEI Universiteit LeidenDevelopmental pathways of social-emotional and cognitive functioning - ou