Cognitive mechanisms of decision making in older women

Abstract

The Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis focuses on the possible influence of the emotional states on the decision making processes. An assessment tool derived form this theory is the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The aim of this study was to detect decision-making alterations in relation to the cognitive impairment associated to age (GDS 2). The data analysis was conducted from two perspectives: quantitative, by computing the advantageous versus disadvantageous choices; and qualitative, according to the PVL model parameters. Two groups were analyzed: one consisting of elderly women with cognitive impairment, and another, with no impairment. Regarding the quantitative analysis, the results show significant differences between both groups, indicating that women with cognitive impairment have less advantageous choices than women without impairment; however, from a qualitative point of view, the results show no significant differences between groups in any of the four parameters of the PVL, indicating that execution of women with and without cognitive impairment are similar. In conclusion, it can be argued that the decision-making processes in women with and without cognitive impairment are quantitatively different but qualitatively similar.