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A developmental study of risky decisions on the cake gambling task: age and gender analyses of probability estimation and reward evaluation

Van Leijenhorst, Linda, Westenberg, P. Michiel, Crone, Eveline A.·2008·Developmental Neuropsychology
DOI 10.1080/87565640701884287
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Abstract

Decision making, or the process of choosing between competing courses of actions, is highly sensitive to age-related change, showing development throughout adolescence. In this study, we tested whether the development of decision making under risk is related to changes in risk-estimation abilities. Participants (N = 93) between ages 8-30 performed a child friendly gambling task, the Cake Gambling task, which was inspired by the Cambridge Gambling Task (Rogers et al., 1999), which has previously been shown to be sensitive to orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) damage. The task allowed comparisons of the contributions to risk perception of (1) the ability to estimate probabilities and (2) evaluate rewards. Adult performance patterns were highly similar to those found in previous reports, showing increased risk taking with increases in the probability of winning and the magnitude of potential reward. Behavioral patterns in children and adolescents did not differ from adult patterns, showing a similar ability for probability estimation and reward evaluation. These data suggest that participants 8 years and older perform like adults in a gambling task, previously shown to depend on the OFC in which all the information needed to make an advantageous decision is given on each trial and no information needs to be inferred from previous behavior. Interestingly, at all ages, females were more risk-averse than males. These results suggest that the increase in real-life risky behavior that is seen in adolescence is not a consequence of changes in risk perception abilities. The findings are discussed in relation to theories about the protracted development of the prefrontal cortex.

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  • Under conditions that minimize arousal of the socioemotional system and allow for deliberative, calculated decision making, adolescents tend to make decisions and judgments quite similar to those of adults.

    “under conditions that minimize arousal of the socioemotional system and allow for deliberative, calculated decision making, adolescents tend to make decisions and judgments that are quite similar to those of adults (e.g., Chein et al., 2011, Figner et al., 2009, Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008).”

    From The dual systems model: Review, reappraisal, and reaffirmation (2016) · cites this paper as Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008

  • Children and adolescents show adult levels of probability estimation and reward evaluation during a gambling task, suggesting that heightened risky decision making in adolescents is probably not related to a change in risk perception.

    “Children and adolescents show adult levels of probability estimation and reward evaluation during one such gambling task, suggesting that heightened risky decision making in adolescents is probably not related to a change in risk perception (Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008).”

    From Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing? (2014) · cites this paper as Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008

  • In the prior study (Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008), participants played for small amounts of money (10 Eurocents), like the current study.

    “In this study, like the current study, the participants also played for small amounts of money (i.e., 10 Eurocents; Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008).”

    From Testosterone levels correspond with increased ventral striatum activation in response to monetary rewards in adolescents (2011) · cites this paper as Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008

  • In a prior behavioral study (Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008), boys took more risks than girls when participants had to select between a response option with low probability of a high reward and high probability of a small reward (forced gamble).

    “In a prior behavioral study in which participants had to select between a response option with low probability of a high reward and high probability of a small reward (i.e., a forced gamble), boys were found to take more risks than girls.”

    From Testosterone levels correspond with increased ventral striatum activation in response to monetary rewards in adolescents (2011) · cites this paper as Van Leijenhorst et al., 2008

  • Boys tend to be less risk averse than girls during adolescence.

    “While risk and reward processing and decision-making skills develop in both boys and girls during adolescence, boys tend to be less risk averse than girls during adolescence (Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008).”

    From Puberty influences medial temporal lobe and cortical gray matter maturation differently in boys than girls matched for sexual maturity (2011) · cites this paper as Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008

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Authors
Van Leijenhorst, L., Westenberg, P. M., & Crone, E. A.
Affiliations
Leiden University (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Developmental Neuropsychology
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2008-03-06
Volume
33
Issue
2
Pages
179-196
ISSN
  • 1532-6942 (ISSN-L)
  • 8756-5641
DOI
10.1080/87565640701884287
OpenAlex
W2080022965
Cited by
176
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Developmental Neuropsychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical and Modern Theater Studies
Keywords
risky decision making, risk perception, probability estimation, reward evaluation, Cambridge Gambling Task, orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex development, adolescence, age differences, gender differences, risk aversion, children
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Development, Culture, Decision Making, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Frontal Lobe, Gambling, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Personality Assessment, Probability Learning, Problem Solving, Reward, Risk-Taking, Sex Factors

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