Stress and decision making: neural correlates of the interaction between stress, executive functions, and decision making under risk

Abstract

Stress and additional load on the executive system, produced by a parallel working memory task, impair decision making under risk. However, the combination of stress and a parallel task seems to preserve the decision-making performance [e.g., operationalized by the Game of Dice Task (GDT)] from decreasing, probably by a switch from serial to parallel processing. The question remains how the brain manages such demanding decision-making situations. The current study used a 7-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system in order to investigate the underlying neural correlates of the interaction between stress (induced by the Trier Social Stress Test), risky decision making (GDT), and a parallel executive task (2-back task) to get a better understanding of those behavioral findings. The results show that on a behavioral level, stressed participants did not show significant differences in task performance. Interestingly, when comparing the stress group (SG) with the control group, the SG showed a greater increase in neural activation in the anterior prefrontal cortex when performing the 2-back task simultaneously with the GDT than when performing each task alone. This brain area is associated with parallel processing. Thus, the results may suggest that in stressful dual-tasking situations, where a decision has to be made when in parallel working memory is demanded, a stronger activation of a brain area associated with parallel processing takes place. The findings are in line with the idea that stress seems to trigger a switch from serial to parallel processing in demanding dual-tasking situations.

Stress pulls us apart: Anxiety leads to differences in competitive confidence under stress

“…Indeed, behavioral and cognitive effects of stress are believed to result from alterations on the activity of largescale brain networks (Drabant et al, 2012;Gathmann et al, 2014;Hermans et al, 2011). Differences in trait anxiety can result in different physiological stress responses (Sandi and Richter-Levin, 2009); however, they do not seem to account for the observed differences in competitive decisions.…”

The relationship between stress and delay discounting

“…Recent findings have also shown that stressed individuals have a reduction in the dorsal region of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and an increase in activation in the parallel processing anterior prefrontal cortex (Gathmann et al, 2014), which suggests that when under stress, individuals are likely to engage in parallel processing, as opposed to serial processing, when performing multiple tasks. It is important to note that this does not necessarily result in poorer performance on decision-making tasks.…”

“…Although changes in activation have been found by previous researchers, a clear consensus of how stress affects the activation of various prefrontal and limbic structures remains unclear. Indeed, the type of stressor as well as decision-making task has resulted in heterogeneous results (Gathmann, et al, 2014). However, increased risky behaviors and neurobiological differences in stressed participants compared with controls are a robust finding in the literature.…”

Acute Stress Impairs Self-Control in Goal-Directed Choice by Altering Multiple Functional Connections within the Brain’s Decision Circuits

“…Experimental data demonstrate that stress can have both immediate and long-lasting effects on brain and behavior (Duckworth et al, 2012;Kandasamy et al, 2014;Lewis et al, 2014;McEwen and Morrison, 2013;Schwabe and Wolf, 2010). Even relatively moderate and acute stressors have been shown to affect decision-making (Gathmann et al, 2014;Lempert et al, 2012;Porcelli and Delgado, 2009;Porcelli et al, 2012;Schwabe et al, 2012;Schwabe and Wolf, 2009;Starcke et al, 2008). However, the neurobiological effects of stress on the important class of choices involving temptation and self-control remain unknown.…”