Neural mechanisms mediating optimism bias

Sharot, Tali; Riccardi, Alison M.; Raio, Candace M.; Phelps, Elizabeth A.

doi:10.1038/nature06280

Cited by 591 publications

(541 citation statements)

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“…The hippocampus encodes information relative not only to past events but also to future ones [153]. The amygdala is involved in representing future positive events [146]. From this evidence the following question follows: Can hippocampus and amygdala dysfunctions relate in difficulties representing future food intake and steady decisionmaking related to future food intake?…”

Section: Outstanding Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The anterior medial temporal lobes: Their role in food intake and body weight regulation

Coppin

2016

Physiology & Behavior

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• The amygdala and hippocampus play a major role in food intake and weight regulation.• These functions are far less known to cognitive and affective scientists.• This review uniquely expands on the interactions between these two brain structures. a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o The anterior medial temporal lobes are one of the most studied parts of the brain. Classically, their two main structures -the amygdalae and the hippocampi -have been linked to key cognitive and affective functions, related in particular to learning and memory. Based on abundant evidence, we will argue for an alternative but complementary point of view: they may also play a major role in food intake and body weight regulation. First, an overview is given of early clinical evidence in this line of thought. Subsequently, empirical evidence is presented on how food intake, including in the extreme case of obesity, may relate to amygdalian and hippocampal functioning. The focus is on the amygdala's role in processing the relevance of food stimuli, cue-induced feeding, and stress-induced eating and on the hippocampus' involvement in the use of interoceptive signals of hunger and satiety, as well as memory and inhibitory processes related to food intake. Additionally, an elaboration takes place on possible reciprocal links between food intake, body weight, and amygdala and hippocampus functioning. Finally, issues that seemed particularly critical for future research in the field are discussed.

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Section: Outstanding Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The anterior medial temporal lobes: Their role in food intake and body weight regulation

Coppin

2016

Physiology & Behavior

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“…Although most investigations of unrealistic optimism have taken place within a social-psychological framework, recently there has been growing interest in relevant neural and pharmacological mechanisms (Sharot et al, 2007(Sharot et al, , 2012a(Sharot et al, , 2012b. In a seminal study, Sharot et al (2011) identified right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), putatively extending into the pars opercularis, as the region of the brain responsible for coding information that should reduce positive expectations; moreover, these authors demonstrated that unrealistic optimism is associated with deficient coding of such information in this region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vestibular stimulation attenuates unrealistic optimism

McKay

Tamagni

Palla

et al. 2013

Cortex

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INTRODUCTION: Unrealistic optimism refers to the pervasive tendency of healthy individuals to underestimate their likelihood of future misfortune, including illness. The phenomenon shares a qualitative resemblance with anosognosia, a neurological disorder characterized by a deficient appreciation of manifest current illness or impairment. Unrealistic optimism and anosognosia have been independently associated with a region of right inferior frontal gyrus, the pars opercularis. Moreover, anosognosia is temporarily abolished by vestibular stimulation, particularly by irrigation of the left (but not right) ear with cold water, a procedure known to activate the right inferior frontal region. We therefore hypothesized that left caloric stimulation would attenuate unrealistic optimism in healthy participants. METHODS: Thirty-one healthy right-handed adults underwent cold-water caloric vestibular stimulation of both ears in succession. During each stimulation episode, and at baseline, participants estimated their own relative risk of contracting a series of illnesses in the future. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, average risk estimates were significantly higher during left-ear stimulation, whereas they remained unchanged during right-ear stimulation. Unrealistic optimism was thus reduced selectively during cold caloric stimulation of the left ear. CONCLUSIONS: Our results point to a unitary mechanism underlying both anosognosia and unrealistic optimism, and suggest that unrealistic optimism is a form of subclinical anosognosia for prospective symptoms. Results: Compared to baseline, average risk estimates were significantly higher during left-ear stimulation, whereas they remained unchanged during right-ear stimulation.Unrealistic optimism was thus reduced selectively during cold caloric stimulation of the left ear. Conclusions:Our results point to a unitary mechanism underlying both anosognosia and unrealistic optimism, and suggest that unrealistic optimism is a form of subclinical anosognosia for prospective symptoms.

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“…Mathematical expectations of the future that are based on an objective evaluation of what is likely to occur, and hopes for the future that are not based on an objective evaluation, yet motivate current choices 3 (Sharot et al, 2007). One's expectations and hopes, however, may not be realized and may be based on achieving identities that while discerned are not consistent with his essence.…”

Section: The Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences, choice, goal attainment, satisfaction: That's life?

Pecchenino

2011

The Journal of Socio-Economics

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a b s t r a c tWe make choices to achieve an objective. The objective is defined by an individual's preferences. Subject to constraints, the objective is approached or achieved. Is this a good characterization of life? To answer this question we weaken one of the most basic assumptions of economics: individuals know their preferences. Instead we assume that an individual's preferences are shaped and reshaped by his environment, experiences, expectations, and by exogenous events. In this model of individual self-discovery, preferences emerge, evolve, and change. These redefinitions change the future course of the individual's life and reinterpret his past. They characterize a life lived.

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Neural mechanisms mediating optimism bias

Cited by 591 publications

References 24 publications

The anterior medial temporal lobes: Their role in food intake and body weight regulation

The anterior medial temporal lobes: Their role in food intake and body weight regulation

Vestibular stimulation attenuates unrealistic optimism

Preferences, choice, goal attainment, satisfaction: That's life?

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