Home Headline News Risk Behavior: Do I, or Don’t I?

Risk Behavior: Do I, or Don’t I?

by Paul Ebeling

#risk #brain

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” — Goethe

The Big Q: Why does 1 person take a lot of risks and another proceed with more caution?

Researchers have come closer to the Big A to that Big Q with a new study that shows risk-taking behavior may be related to characteristics in the brain.

The study found there is no specific risk area in the brain. Instead, there are many regions where anatomy is altered in people who take risks. Yet there is a connection between genes, lower levels of gray matter, and risky behavior, the researchers concluded.

People have different tendencies to engage in behavior that risks their health or that involve uncertainties about the future,” senior author Gideon Nave said in a University of Pennsylvania news release. Mr. Nave is an assistant professor of marketing at the university’s Wharton School.

The research team gathered brain scans and genetic data from more than 12,600 people of European ancestry and then from another 13,000 people. All were aged 40 to 69 and enrolled in the UK Biobank.

Investigators used self-reported risky behaviors like smoking, drinking, sexual promiscuity, and driving above the speed limit to create an overall indicator of risk tolerance.

They estimated the relationship between total gray matter volume across the brain and the risk-tolerance score.

Higher risk tolerance was correlated with overall lower gray matter volume, researchers said, though only an association was seen. Gray matter carries out the basic functions of the brain.

The research team also looked at which specific areas of the brain had the strongest relationship between risk taking and reduced gray matter. They found expected links between risk and the amygdala, which is involved in fear and emotion, but also found links in other regions, such as the hippocampus, which creates new memories, and the cerebellum, which involves balance and coordination and has long been suspected of being involved in decision-making. 

Researchers also developed a risk score to try to make connections between genes, brain, and behavior, using a genome-wide association study of nearly 300,000 people.

They found that the risk score explained 3% of the variation in risky behavior. It was correlated with gray matter volume in three areas of the brain, and researchers determined that differences in the gray matter of these locations carried out around 2% of genetic disposition toward risky behavior.

It appears that gray matter of these three regions is translating a genetic tendency into actual behavior,” said co-author Philipp Koellinger, from Vrej University Amsterdam.

The findings appear in the online journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Have a healthy weekend, Keep the Faith!

You may also like

logo-white

Your Trusted Source for Capital Markets & Related News

© 2023 LiveTradingNews.com – For The Traders, By The Traders – All Right Reserved.

The information contained on this website shall not be construed as (i) an offer to purchase or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell, any securities or services, (ii) investment, legal, business or tax advice or an offer to provide such advice, or (iii) a basis for making any investment decision. An offering may only be made upon a qualified investor’s receipt not via this website of formal materials from the Knightsbridge an offering memorandum and subscription documentation (“offering materials”). In the case of any inconsistency between the information on this website and any such offering materials, the offering materials shall control. Securities shall not be offered or sold in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful unless the requirements of the applicable laws of such jurisdiction have been satisfied. Any decision to invest in securities must be based solely upon the information set forth in the applicable offering materials, which should be read carefully by qualified investors prior to investing. An investment with Knightsbridge is not suitable or desirable for all investors; investors may lose all or a portion of the capital invested. Investors may be required to bear the financial risks of an investment for an indefinite period of time. Qualified investors are urged to consult with their own legal, financial and tax advisors before making any investment. Knightsbridge is a private investment firm that offers investment services to Qualified Investors, Members and Institutions ONLY. Qualified Investors are defined as individuals who have met those Qualifications in the relevant jurisdictions. Members are defined as individuals who have been accepted into the Knightsbridge membership program. Institutions are defined as entities such as banks, pension funds, and hedge funds. If you are not a Qualified Investor, Member or Institution, you are not eligible to invest with Knightsbridge. All investments involve risk, and there is no guarantee of profit. You may lose some or all of your investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Knightsbridge is not a registered investment advisor, and this disclaimer should not be construed as investment advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. By accessing this website, you agree to the terms of this disclaimer. Thank you for your interest in Knightsbridge.