An fMRI examination of developmental differences in the neural correlates of uncertainty and decision-making
An fMRI examination of developmental differences in the neural correlates of uncertainty and decision-making
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01677.x
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发表时间：
2006-10-01
影响因子：
7.6
通讯作者：
Milham, Michael P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Krain, Amy L.;Hefton, Sara;Milham, Michael P.
背景：青春期前额叶回路的成熟有助于决策等认知过程的发展。最近的理论表明，这些神经变化也在从广泛性焦虑症（GAD）到抑郁症的转变中发挥了作用，这种转变经常发生在这个发展时期。广泛性焦虑症发展的认知模型强调了对不确定性的不容忍（IU）的作用，其特征在于行为上的决策障碍。本研究探讨了与不确定决策相关的额叶区域的潜在发展差异，并测试了IU对这些回路的影响。研究方法：12名健康成年人（年龄19-36岁）和12名健康青少年（年龄13-17岁）在获得fMRI扫描的同时完成了不同不确定性条件下的决策任务。他们还完成了焦虑和IU的测量，以及关于他们在任务期间焦虑和确定性水平的问卷调查。结果：组合组分析表明，显着的线性影响的不确定性活动在前扣带皮层（ACC）。基于感兴趣区域（ROI）的分析发现，ACC中组和IU评分之间存在显著的相互作用。仅在青少年中，IU的增加与ACC活性的稳健线性增加相关。反馈相关处理的ROI分析发现，青少年在不正确的试验中表现出更大的激活相对于正确的试验，而成年人与不正确和正确的反馈相关的神经活动没有差异。结论：这项决策任务被证明是有效的，在引发成人和青少年的不确定性相关的ACC活动。此外，IU的影响ACC活动在青少年在不确定的决策，提供初步支持的发展模式的广泛性焦虑症。
Background: Maturation of prefrontal circuits during adolescence contributes to the development of cognitive processes such as decision-making. Recent theories suggest that these neural changes also play a role in the shift from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to depression that often occurs during this developmental period. Cognitive models of the development of GAD highlight the role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU), which can be characterized behaviorally by impairments in decision-making. The present study examines potential developmental differences in frontal regions associated with uncertain decision-making, and tests the impact of IU on these circuits. Methods: Twelve healthy adults (ages 19-36) and 12 healthy adolescents (ages 13-17) completed a decision-making task with conditions of varied uncertainty while fMRI scans were acquired. They also completed measures of worry and IU, and a questionnaire about their levels of anxiety and certainty during the task. Results: Combined group analyses demonstrated significant linear effects of uncertainty on activity within anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Region of interest (ROI)-based analysis found a significant interaction of group and IU ratings in ACC. Increased IU was associated with robust linear increases in ACC activity only in adolescents. An ROI analysis of feedback-related processing found that adolescents demonstrated greater activation during incorrect trials relative to correct trials, while the adults showed no difference in neural activity associated with incorrect and correct feedback. Conclusions: This decision-making task was shown to be effective at eliciting uncertainty-related ACC activity in adults and adolescents. Further, IU impacts ACC activity in adolescents during uncertain decision-making, providing preliminary support for a developmental model of GAD.