The Multiple Faces of Risk-Taking

Abstract. The Balloon-Analogue Risk Task (BART; Lejuez et al., 2002 ) is one of the most popular behavioral tasks suggested to assess risk-taking in the laboratory. Previous research has shown that the conventionally computed score is predictive, but neglects available information in the data. We suggest a number of alternative scores that are motivated by theories of risk-taking and that exploit more of the available data. These scores can be grouped around (1) risk-taking, (2) task performance, (3) impulsive decision making, and (4) reinforcement sequence modulation. Their theoretical rationale is detailed and their validity is tested within the nomological network of risk-taking, deviance, and scholastic achievement. Two multivariate studies were conducted with youths (n = 435) and with adolescents/young adults (n = 316). Additionally, we tested formal models suggested for the BART that decompose observed behavior into a set of meaningful parameters. A simulation study with parameter recovery was conducted, and the data from the two studies were reanalyzed using the models. Most scores were reliable and differentially predictive of criterion variables and may be used in basic research. However, task specificity and the generally moderate validity do not warrant use of the experimental paradigm for diagnostic purposes.

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Dissecting the Effects of Disease and Treatment on Impulsivity in Parkinson's Disease

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561771200094x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 942-951 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Alison C. Simioni ◽

Alain Dagher ◽

Lesley K. Fellows

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Temporal Discounting ◽

Baseline Risk ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Risky Decision ◽

Balloon Analogue Risk Task

AbstractConverging evidence, including observations in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), suggests that dopamine plays a role in impulsivity. This multi-faceted construct includes considerations of both time and risk; determining how these more specific processes are affected by PD and dopaminergic treatment can inform neurobiological models. We examined the effects of PD and its treatment on temporal discounting and risky decision-making in a cohort of 23 mild-moderate PD patients and 20 healthy participants. Patients completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and a temporal discounting paradigm both on and off their usual dopamine replacement therapy. PD patients did not differ from controls in their initial risk-taking on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, but took progressively more risks across trials when on medication. A subset of patients and controls was tested again, 1.5–3 years later, to explore the effects of disease progression. On follow-up, baseline risk-taking diminished in patients, but the tendency to take increasing risks across trials persisted. Neither disease progression nor its treatment affected the temporal discounting rate. These findings suggest a different neural basis for temporal discounting and risk-taking, and demonstrate that risk-taking can be further decomposed into initial and trial-by-trial effects, with dopamine affecting only the latter. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–10)

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Can Risk-Taking Be an Endophenotype for Bipolar Disorder? A Study on Patients with Bipolar Disorder Type I and Their First-Degree Relatives

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617713000015 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 474-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ceren Hıdıroğlu ◽

Özlem Demirci Esen ◽

Zeliha Tunca ◽

Şehnaz Neslihan Gűrz Yalçìn ◽

Lauren Lombardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Outcome Measure ◽

Bipolar Disorders ◽

Type I ◽

Balloon Analogue Risk Task ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Risk Taking Behavior ◽

Disorder Type ◽

Core Features

AbstractRisk-taking behavior and impulsivity are core features of bipolar disorder. Whether they are part of the inherited aspect of the illness is not clear. We aimed to evaluate risk-taking behavior as a potential endophenotype for bipolar disorders, and its relationship with impulsivity and illness features. The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were used to assess risk-taking behavior and impulsivity respectively in 30 euthymic bipolar I patients (BD), their 25 asymptomatic first-degree relatives (BD-R), and 30 healthy controls (HC). The primary BART outcome measure was the behavioral adjustment score (number of pumps after trials where the balloon did not pop minus the number of pumps after trials where the balloon popped). BD (p< .001) and BD-R (p= .001) had similar and significantly lower adjustment scores than HC. Only BD scored significantly higher on BIS-11 total (p= .01) and motor (p= .04) subscales than HC. Neither the BART, nor impulsivity scores associated with illness features. A limitation of this study is medicated patients and a heterogeneous BD-R were included. Riskiness may be a candidate endophenotype for bipolar disorder as it appears independently from illness features, presents similarly in BD and BD-R groups and differs from impulsivity. (JINS, 2013,19, 1–9)

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Cuing both positive and negative episodic foresight reduces delay discounting but does not affect risk-taking

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1177/1747021818819777 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 1998-2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adam Bulley ◽

Beyon Miloyan ◽

Gillian V Pepper ◽

Matthew J Gullo ◽

Julie D Henry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Delay Discounting ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Future Scenarios ◽

Balloon Analogue Risk Task ◽

Episodic Simulation ◽

The Future ◽

Future Events ◽

Monetary Choice Questionnaire

Humans frequently create mental models of the future, allowing outcomes to be inferred in advance of their occurrence. Recent evidence suggests that imagining positive future events reduces delay discounting (the devaluation of reward with time until its receipt), while imagining negative future events may increase it. Here, using a sample of 297 participants, we experimentally assess the effects of cued episodic simulation of positive and negative future scenarios on decision-making in the context of both delay discounting (monetary choice questionnaire) and risk-taking (balloon-analogue risk task). Participants discounted the future less when cued to imagine positive and negative future scenarios than they did when cued to engage in control neutral imagery. There were no effects of experimental condition on risk-taking. Thus, although these results replicate previous findings suggesting episodic future simulation can reduce delay discounting, they indicate that this effect is not dependent on the valence of the thoughts, and does not generalise to all other forms of “impulsive” decision-making. We discuss various interpretations of these results, and suggest avenues for further research on the role of prospection in decision-making.

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An experimental paradigm examining the influence of frustration on risk-taking behavior

Behavioural Processes ◽

10.1016/j.beproc.2018.10.013 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 158 ◽

pp. 155-162

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Loya ◽

Katherine L. McCauley ◽

Andrea Chronis-Tuscano ◽

Starr Z. Chen ◽

Abanoub Gad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Taking ◽

Experimental Paradigm ◽

Risk Taking Behavior

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The Exponential-Weight Mean-Variance Model: A novel computational model for the Balloon Analogue Risk Task

10.31234/osf.io/sdzj4 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Harhim Park ◽

Jaeyeong Yang ◽

Jasmin Vassileva ◽

Woo-Young Ahn

Keyword(s):

Computational Model ◽

Computational Models ◽

Model Comparison ◽

Exponential Weight ◽

Multiple Model ◽

Variance Model ◽

Balloon Analogue Risk Task ◽

Parameter Recovery ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Mean Variance

The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) is a popular task used to measure risk-taking behavior. To identify cognitive processes associated with choice behavior on the BART, a few computational models have been proposed. However, the extant models are either too simplistic or fail to show good parameter recovery performance. Here, we propose a novel computational model, the exponential-weight mean-variance (EWMV) model, which addresses the limitations of existing models. By using multiple model comparison methods, including post hoc model fits criterion and parameter recovery, we showed that the EWMV model outperforms the existing models. In addition, we applied the EWMV model to BART data from healthy controls and substance-using populations (patients with past opiate and stimulant dependence). The results suggest that (1) the EWMV model addresses the limitations of existing models and (2) heroin-dependent individuals show reduced risk preference than other groups in the BART.

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