Galvan et al. (2007) used fMRI to examine the relationship between brain activity, risk-taking, risk perception, and impulsivity across children, adolescents, and adults. They found that brain activity in the neural reward center was correlated with risk-taking behavior, but not with impulsivity or risk perception, challenging the assumption that adolescents are inherently more impulsive.

Google

Neuroimaging studies using fMRI suggest a link between adolescent risk-taking and brain activity in the neural reward center. Research found that while such brain activity correlated with risk-taking behaviors, it did not correlate with measures of impulsivity or risk perception. This finding challenges the common assumption that adolescents are inherently more impulsive than children or adults.

Neural Reward Center Activity and Adolescent Risk-Taking

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A common belief is that adolescents engage in risky behaviors primarily because they are more impulsive and less able to perceive risks than adults. How do findings from neuroimaging studies on the brain's reward center challenge this specific belief?

Learn Before

Related