Selective activation of the nucleus accumbens during risk-taking decision making

Neuroreport ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (13) ◽  
pp. 2123-2127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C. Matthews ◽  
Alan N. Simmons ◽  
Scott D. Lane ◽  
Martin P. Paulus
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Selective Activation

scholarly journals Risky Decision-Making Predicts Dopamine Release Dynamics in Nucleus Accumbens Shell

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy G. Freels ◽  
Daniel B. K. Gabriel ◽  
Deranda B. Lester ◽  
Nicholas W. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Dopamine Release ◽  
Risky Decision Making ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Shell ◽  
Risky Decision ◽  
Dopaminergic Drugs ◽  
Dopamine Signaling

AbstractThe risky decision-making task (RDT) measures risk-taking in a rat model by assessing preference between a small, safe reward and a large reward with increasing risk of punishment (mild foot shock). It is well-established that dopaminergic drugs modulate risk-taking; however, little is known about how differences in baseline phasic dopamine signaling drive individual differences in risk preference. Here, we usedin vivofixed potential amperometry in male Long-Evans rats to test if phasic nucleus accumbens shell (NACs) dopamine dynamics are associated with risk-taking. We observed a positive correlation between medial forebrain bundle-evoked dopamine release in the NACs and risky decision-making, suggesting that risk-taking is associated with elevated dopamine sensitivity. Moreover, “risk-taking” subjects were found to demonstrate greater phasic dopamine release than “risk-averse” subjects. Risky decision-making also predicted enhanced sensitivity to nomifensine, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, quantified as elevated latency for dopamine to clear from the synapse. Importantly, this hyperdopaminergic phenotype was selective for risky decision-making, as delay discounting performance was not predictive of phasic dopamine release or dopamine supply. These data identify phasic NACs dopamine release as a possible therapeutic target for alleviating the excessive risk-taking observed across multiple forms of psychopathology.Significance StatementExcessive risky decision-making is a hallmark of addiction, promoting ongoing drug seeking despite the risk of social, financial, and physical consequences. However, punishment-driven risk-taking is understudied in preclinical models. Here, we examined the relationship between individual differences in risk-taking and dopamine release properties in the rat nucleus accumbens shell, a brain region associated with motivation and decision-making. We observed that high risk taking predicted elevated phasic dopamine release and sensitivity to the dopamine transporter blocker nomifensine. This hypersensitive dopamine system was not observed in rats with high impulsive choice, another behavior associated with substance use disorder. This provides critical information about neurobiological factors underlying a form of decision-making that promotes vulnerability to substance abuse.

scholarly journals Triadic model of the neurobiology of motivated behavior in adolescence

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
MONIQUE ERNST ◽  
DANIEL S. PINE ◽  
MICHAEL HARDIN
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Novelty Seeking ◽  
Motivated Behavior ◽  
The Face ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Ventral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Triadic Model

Background. Risk-taking behavior is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescence. In the context of decision theory and motivated (goal-directed) behavior, risk-taking reflects a pattern of decision-making that favors the selection of courses of action with uncertain and possibly harmful consequences. We present a triadic, neuroscience systems-based model of adolescent decision-making.Method. We review the functional role and neurodevelopmental findings of three key structures in the control of motivated behavior, i.e. amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and medial/ventral prefrontal cortex. We adopt a cognitive neuroscience approach to motivated behavior that uses a temporal fragmentation of a generic motivated action. Predictions about the relative contributions of the triadic nodes to the three stages of a motivated action during adolescence are proposed.Results. The propensity during adolescence for reward/novelty seeking in the face of uncertainty or potential harm might be explained by a strong reward system (nucleus accumbens), a weak harm-avoidant system (amygdala), and/or an inefficient supervisory system (medial/ventral prefrontal cortex). Perturbations in these systems may contribute to the expression of psychopathology, illustrated here with depression and anxiety.Conclusions. A triadic model, integrated in a temporally organized map of motivated behavior, can provide a helpful framework that suggests specific hypotheses of neural bases of typical and atypical adolescent behavior.

Healthy aging is associated with decreased risk-taking in motor decision-making.

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Valsecchi ◽  
Jutta Billino ◽  
Karl R. Gegenfurtner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Healthy Aging

scholarly journals P.005 Lisdexamfetamine precipitated pathological gambling

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (s2) ◽  
pp. S17-S17 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Chaudhary ◽  
A Hirsch ◽  
W MacPherson ◽  
J Nayati
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Pathological Gambling ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Aged Woman ◽  
Middle Aged Woman ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mental Status Examination

Background: Lisdexamfetamine has not heretofore been reported to cause pathological gambling. Such a case is presented. Methods: A middle-aged woman, without past interest in gambling, gaming, or risk taking behavior, with childhood history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder presented with difficulty focusing and concentrating. Lisdexamfetamine was started at 20 mg daily and gradually escalated due to lack of efficacy. At 70 mg daily, she began binging on sweets and gambling all day, every day at nearby riverboats, which she had never frequented previously. Upon reduction to 60 mg daily, the gambling resolved. Ritalin 20 mg every morning and 50 mg every afternoon was used without gambling reoccurrence. Results: Mental Status Examination: Alert, cooperative and oriented x 3 with good eye contact. Euthymic, without mania, thoughts logical and goal directed. Conclusions: Enhanced dopamine in the nucleus accumbens may induce hedonic activities including gambling, binging on sweets, or sexual activity (Moore et al. 2014). Lisdexamfetamine has been described to induce mania, and pathological gambling may have been an isolated manifestation of early mania. In those who have recently begun lisdexamfetamine, query should be made regarding change in gambling behavior and in those who are pathologically gambling, investigation should be entertained as to whether they are taking lisdexamfetamine.

Protesting During a Pandemic: Narratives on Risk Taking and Motivation to Participating in the 2020 March on Washington

2021 ◽  
pp. 001112872199933
Author(s):  
Jennifer Cobbina ◽  
Ashleigh LaCourse ◽  
Erika J. Brooke ◽  
Soma Chaudhuri
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Social Position ◽  
Structural Racism ◽  
Police Violence ◽  
Black Lives Matter ◽  
The Media ◽  
March On Washington

The study elucidates the interplay of COVID-19 and the wave of Black Lives Matter protests to assess motivation and risk taking for protest participation. We draw on protesters’ accounts to examine how police violence influenced the participants decision making to participate in the 2020 March on Washington during a pandemic that exacerbated the risks already in place from protesting the police. We found that protesters’ social position and commitment to the cause provided motivations, along with a zeal to do more especially among White protesters. For Black participants, the images in the media resonated with their own experiences of structural racism from police.

The Moderating Role of Personal Relevance on Differential Priming of Anxiety and Sadness on Perceived Travel Risk: A Replication

2009 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 500-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Bin Chiou ◽  
Ming-Hsu Chang ◽  
Chien-Lung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Personal Relevance ◽  
Risk Averse ◽  
Mood Repair ◽  
Neutral Mood ◽  
Motivational Influences ◽  
Relevance Condition ◽  
Moderating Role

Raghunathan and Pham conducted a pioneer study in 1999 on the motivational influences of anxiety and sadness on decision making and indicated that anxiety would motivate individuals to be risk averse, whereas sadness would motivate individuals to be risk taking. A replication study was employed in the domain of perceived travel risk. Compared to participants in a neutral mood, anxious participants showed higher perceived travel risk than sad participants. Moreover, the differential effect of anxiety and sadness on perceived travel risk was only pronounced under the high personal relevance condition, in which participants made personal decisions and expected that they would be affected by the outcomes. In general, the results extend the notion proposed by Raghunathan and Pham suggesting that travelers' implicit goals primed by anxiety or sadness used for mood-repair purposes appear to be moderated by personal relevance.

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