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. 2020 Sep;30(3):599-615.
doi: 10.1111/jora.12546. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

Differential Behavioral and Neural Profiles in Youth With Conduct Problems During Risky Decision-Making

Jorien van Hoorn  1 , Ethan M McCormick  1 , Michael T Perino  2 , Christina R Rogers  3 , Eva H Telzer  1
Affiliations

Differential Behavioral and Neural Profiles in Youth With Conduct Problems During Risky Decision-Making

Jorien van Hoorn et al. J Res Adolesc. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Neuroimaging work has examined neural processes underlying risk taking in adolescence, yet predominantly in low-risk youth. To determine whether we can extrapolate from current neurobiological models, this functional magnetic resonance imaging study investigated risk taking and peer effects in youth with conduct problems (CP; N = 19) and typically developing youth (TD; N = 25). Results revealed higher real-life risk taking, lower risky decisions, and no peer effects on a risk-taking task in CP youth. CP youth showed greater ventral striatum (VS) activity during safe than risky decisions, whereas TD youth showed greater VS activation during risky decisions. Differential VS activity explained higher real-life risk taking in CP youth. Findings provide preliminary evidence that risk-taking behavior in youth with CD problems is characterized by differential neural patterns.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Participants completed the Yellow Light Game in the scanner.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Risk-taking behavior during Yellow Light Game as measured by % of go-decisions in Alone and Peer Presence condition for the Typically developing sample (black bars) and Conduct Problems sample (striped bars). Error bars indicate standard error of the mean (+- 1 SEM). * p < .05 ** p < .001.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
VS activity when adolescents took risks (go-decision) and played it safe (stop-decision) for Typically developing (black bars) and Conduct Problems sample (striped bars). For descriptive purposes, parameter estimates (P.E.) were extracted from Go > baseline and Stop > baseline. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (+- 1 SEM). Thresholded at p < .005, small-volume corrected (k = 20).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mediation model examining the association between group and real-life risk taking. Activation in the ventral striatum (VS) during go-stop decisions was modeled as a mediator between group (Typically developing (TD; coded as 0) and Conduct Problems (CP; coded as 1) and frequency of risk-taking behaviors as assessed by the Adolescent Risk Taking scale. Coefficients are unstandardized. * p < .05, ** p < .001
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
VS activity when adolescents took risks (go-decision) in the presence of a peer or alone for Typically developing (black bars) and Conduct Problems sample (striped bars). For descriptive purposes, parameter estimates (P.E.) were extracted from Go Alone > baseline and Go Peer > baseline. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (+- 1 SEM). Thresholded at p < .005, FWE-cluster (k = 51).
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