Market mechanisms protect the vulnerable brain

NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA

卷:49

Article

Ramchandran, Kanchna²  Tranel, Daniel³  Denburg, Natalie L.¹ 

[1] 2007 RCP Dept Neurol, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA

[2] 2188 RCP Dept Neurol, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA

[3] 2155 RCP Dept Neurol, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA

关键词: Decision-making;    Aging;    Dopaminergic systems;    Markets;    Social neuroscience;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.04.034

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Markets are mechanisms of social exchange, intended to facilitate trading. However, the question remains as to whether markets would help or hurt individuals with decision-makings deficits, as is frequently encountered in the case of cognitive aging. Essential for predicting future gains and losses in monetary and social domains, the striatal nuclei in the brain undergo structural, neurochemical, and functional decline with age. We correlated the efficacy of market mechanisms with dorsal striatal decline in an aging population, by using market based trading in the context of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections (primary cycle). Impaired decision-makers displayed higher prediction error (difference between their prediction and actual outcome). Lower in vivo caudate volume was also associated with higher prediction error. Importantly, market-based trading protected older adults with lower caudate volume to a greater extent from their own poorly calibrated predictions. Counterintuitive to the traditional public perception of the market as a fickle, risky proposition where vulnerable traders are most surely to be burned, we suggest that market-based mechanisms protect individuals with brain-based decision-making vulnerabilities. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free