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Decision-making ability, psychopathology, and brain connectivity.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Moutoussis, Michael 
Garzón, Benjamín 
Bach, Dominik R 
Rigoli, Francesco 

Abstract

Decision-making is a cognitive process of central importance for the quality of our lives. Here, we ask whether a common factor underpins our diverse decision-making abilities. We obtained 32 decision-making measures from 830 young people and identified a common factor that we call "decision acuity," which was distinct from IQ and reflected a generic decision-making ability. Decision acuity was decreased in those with aberrant thinking and low general social functioning. Crucially, decision acuity and IQ had dissociable brain signatures, in terms of their associated neural networks of resting-state functional connectivity. Decision acuity was reliably measured, and its relationship with functional connectivity was also stable when measured in the same individuals 18 months later. Thus, our behavioral and brain data identify a new cognitive construct that underpins decision-making ability across multiple domains. This construct may be important for understanding mental health, particularly regarding poor social function and aberrant thought patterns.

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Keywords

adolescence, computational psychiatry, decision acuity, development, functional connectivity, Adolescent, Affect, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Anxiety, Brain, Cognition, Decision Making, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Functional Neuroimaging, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neural Pathways, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychosocial Functioning, Self Concept, Social Interaction, Young Adult

Journal Title

Neuron

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0896-6273
1097-4199

Volume Title

109

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (156239)
Wellcome Trust (095844/Z/11/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_G0802534)