Elisabeth Steinmann1, Antonia Schmalor2, Alexander Prehn-Kristensen3, Stephan Wolff4, Andreas Galka2, Jan Möhring2, Wolf-Dieter Gerber5, Franz Petermann6, Ulrich Stephani2, Michael Siniatchkin7. 1. Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Institute of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Diesterwegstr. 10-12, D-24105 Kiel, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Electronic address: steinmann@med-psych.uni-kiel.de. 2. Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. 3. Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. 4. Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. 6. Center of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Bremen, Germany. 7. Clinic for Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: One of the important prerequisites for successful social interaction is the willingness of each individual to cooperate socially. Using the ultimatum game, several studies have demonstrated that the process of decision-making to cooperate or to defeat in interaction with a partner is associated with activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula (AI), and inferior frontal cortex (IFC). This study investigates developmental changes in this neuronal network. METHODS: 15 healthy children (8-12 years), 15 adolescents (13-18 years) and 15 young adults (19-28 years) were investigated using the ultimatum game. Neuronal networks representing decision-making based on strategic thinking were characterized using functional MRI. RESULTS: In all age groups, the process of decision-making in reaction to unfair offers was associated with hemodynamic changes in similar regions. Compared with children, however, healthy adults and adolescents revealed greater activation in the IFC and the fusiform gyrus, as well as the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, healthy children displayed more activation in the AI, the dorsal part of the ACC, and the DLPFC. There were no differences in brain activations between adults and adolescents. CONCLUSION: The neuronal mechanisms underlying strategic social decision making are already developed by the age of eight. Decision-making based on strategic thinking is associated with age-dependent involvement of different brain regions. Neuronal networks underlying theory of mind and reward anticipation are more activated in adults and adolescents with regard to the increasing perspective taking with age. In relation to emotional reactivity and respective compensatory coping in younger ages, children have higher activations in a neuronal network associated with emotional processing and executive control.
OBJECTIVES: One of the important prerequisites for successful social interaction is the willingness of each individual to cooperate socially. Using the ultimatum game, several studies have demonstrated that the process of decision-making to cooperate or to defeat in interaction with a partner is associated with activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula (AI), and inferior frontal cortex (IFC). This study investigates developmental changes in this neuronal network. METHODS: 15 healthy children (8-12 years), 15 adolescents (13-18 years) and 15 young adults (19-28 years) were investigated using the ultimatum game. Neuronal networks representing decision-making based on strategic thinking were characterized using functional MRI. RESULTS: In all age groups, the process of decision-making in reaction to unfair offers was associated with hemodynamic changes in similar regions. Compared with children, however, healthy adults and adolescents revealed greater activation in the IFC and the fusiform gyrus, as well as the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, healthy children displayed more activation in the AI, the dorsal part of the ACC, and the DLPFC. There were no differences in brain activations between adults and adolescents. CONCLUSION: The neuronal mechanisms underlying strategic social decision making are already developed by the age of eight. Decision-making based on strategic thinking is associated with age-dependent involvement of different brain regions. Neuronal networks underlying theory of mind and reward anticipation are more activated in adults and adolescents with regard to the increasing perspective taking with age. In relation to emotional reactivity and respective compensatory coping in younger ages, children have higher activations in a neuronal network associated with emotional processing and executive control.
Authors: Jian W Dong; Nicole M Petrovich Brennan; Giana Izzo; Kyung K Peck; Andrei I Holodny Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2016-02-05 Impact factor: 2.804