Revisiting the Neural Architecture of Adolescent Decision-Making: Univariate and Multivariate Evidence for System-Based Models

Abstract

Understanding adolescent decision-making is significant for informing basic models of neurodevelopment as well as for the domains of public health and criminal justice. System-based theories posit that adolescent decision-making is guided by activity related to reward and control processes. While successful at explaining behavior, system-based theories have received inconsistent support at the neural level, perhaps because of methodological limitations. Here, we used two complementary approaches to overcome said limitations and rigorously evaluate system-based models. Using decision-level modeling of fMRI data from a risk-taking task in a sample of 20001 decisions across 51 human adolescents (25 females, mean age = 15.00 years), we find support for system-based theories of decision-making. Neural activity in lateral PFC and a multivariate pattern of cognitive control both predicted a reduced likelihood of risk-taking, whereas increased activity in the NAcc predicted a greater likelihood of risk-taking. Interactions between decision-level brain activity and age were not observed. These results garner support for system-based accounts of adolescent decision-making behavior.

Development of the triadic neural systems involved in risky decision-making during childhood

“…Specially, we divided the BART into three conditions ( i.e. , “Inflation”, “Win Outcome”, and “Loss Outcome”) in view of the complexity of risky decision-making processes ( Blakemore and Robbins, 2012 , Guassi Moreira et al, 2021 ). As revealed by the maturation index, brain activity concerning reward- and risk-feedback demonstrated continuous development, but no significant age-related difference was found in brain activity patterns under the “Inflation” condition during which the engagement of control-related brain regions was needed.…”

“…, excessive externalizing behaviors), is considered as a predictor of adolescent conduct disorders ( Crowley et al, 2017 , Fanti et al, 2016 ). Yet, contrasting with ample work on the neural substrates underlying risk-taking in adolescents and adults ( Guassi Moreira et al, 2021 , Richards et al, 2013 ), it remains elusive how these systems organize to support related functions in childhood. Knowledge of such neural underpinnings in childhood is important for understanding precursors of adolescent risky behaviors and ontogenies of malfunctions in related psychiatric disorders ( Casey and Jones, 2010 , Dalley and Robbins, 2017 ).…”

Early life adversity is associated with greater similarity in neural representations of ambiguous and threatening stimuli

“…The amygdala and nucleus accumbens were defined based on FSL's Harvard-Oxford atlas and were thresholded in MNI space using Harvard-Oxford's probabilistic masks, which specify the probability that a given voxel falls within the specified brain region. The amygdala was thresholded at p = 0.50 and the nucleus accumbens was thresholded at p = 0.25 based on prior work (Guassi Moreira et al, 2021;Tashjian et al, 2019) and visual inspection of anatomical alignment. V1 was defined based on FSL's Juelich atlas (Amunts et al, 2000) and thresholded at p = 0.75.…”