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Cited by 94Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

An fMRI examination of developmental differences in the neural correlates of uncertainty and decision‐making

Krain, Amy L., Hefton, Sara, Pine, Daniel S., Ernst, Monique, Xavier Castellanos, F., Klein, Rachel G., Milham, Michael P.·2006·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01677.x
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Abstract

Background: Maturation of prefrontal circuits during adolescence contributes to the development of cognitive processes such as decision‐making. Recent theories suggest that these neural changes also play a role in the shift from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to depression that often occurs during this developmental period. Cognitive models of the development of GAD highlight the role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU), which can be characterized behaviorally by impairments in decision‐making. The present study examines potential developmental differences in frontal regions associated with uncertain decision‐making, and tests the impact of IU on these circuits. Methods: Twelve healthy adults (ages 19–36) and 12 healthy adolescents (ages 13–17) completed a decision‐making task with conditions of varied uncertainty while fMRI scans were acquired. They also completed measures of worry and IU, and a questionnaire about their levels of anxiety and certainty during the task. Results: Combined group analyses demonstrated significant linear effects of uncertainty on activity within anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Region of interest (ROI)‐based analysis found a significant interaction of group and IU ratings in ACC. Increased IU was associated with robust linear increases in ACC activity only in adolescents. An ROI analysis of feedback‐related processing found that adolescents demonstrated greater activation during incorrect trials relative to correct trials, while the adults showed no difference in neural activity associated with incorrect and correct feedback. Conclusions: This decision‐making task was shown to be effective at eliciting uncertainty‐related ACC activity in adults and adolescents. Further, IU impacts ACC activity in adolescents during uncertain decision‐making, providing preliminary support for a developmental model of GAD.

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  • Limited evidence is consistent with the idea that the anterior insular cortex is an important area in the development of reward processing, particularly during anticipation of reward.

    “Despite this caveat, we were able to find some limited evidence consistent with the idea that the AIC is an important area in the development of reward processing, particularly during anticipation of reward (see table 1; fig. 2b) [91, 98, 99].”

    From The role of the anterior insula in adolescent decision making (2014) · cites this paper as [91]

  • Van Leijenhorst et al. found that when presented with the possibility of obtaining a reward, adolescents but not adults demonstrated increased recruitment of both anterior insular cortex and striatum.

    “When presented with the possibility of obtaining a reward, the adolescents, but not the adults, demonstrated increased recruitment of both the AIC and the striatum.”

    From The role of the anterior insula in adolescent decision making (2014) · cites this paper as [91]

  • Changes in reward sensitivity during adolescence are believed to result from early maturation of the reward-processing system including the striatum, making adolescents hypersensitive to opportunities for and receipt of rewards.

    “Changes in reward sensitivity during adolescence are believed to be a result of early maturation of the brain’s reward-processing system, including the striatum, which makes adolescents hypersensitive to opportunities for, and receipt of, rewards [90, 91].”

    From The role of the anterior insula in adolescent decision making (2014) · cites this paper as [91]

  • Intolerance to uncertainty is a transdiagnostic factor strongly implicated in the maintenance of anxiety disorders, and is associated with greater physiological reactivity, attentional biases, and neural activation to uncertainty and uncertain threat cues.

    “Intolerance to uncertainty is a transdiagnostic factor strongly implicated in the maintenance of anxiety disorders, and is associated with greater physiological reactivity, attentional biases, and neural activation to uncertainty and uncertain threat cues (Carleton, 2012; Krain et al., 2006; Mahoney & McEvoy, 2012; Nelson & Shankman, 2011; Simmons, Matthews, Paulus, & Stein, 2008).”

    From Cued for Risk: Evidence for an Incentive Sensitization Framework to Explain the Interplay between Stress and Anxiety, Substance Abuse, and Reward Uncertainty in Disordered Gambling Behavior (2019) · cites this paper as Krain et al., 2006

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Authors
Krain, A. L., Hefton, S., Pine, D. S., Ernst, M., Xavier Castellanos, F., Klein, R. G., & Milham, M. P.
Affiliations
  • NYU Langone Health (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Krain, Amy L.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2006-10-26
Volume
47
Issue
10
Pages
1023-1030
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01677.x
OpenAlex
W2071330909
Cited by
94
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI
1.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Fordham Research Commons (Fordham University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH074821)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
intolerance of uncertainty, uncertainty, decision-making, anterior cingulate cortex, adolescents, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, worry, neural correlates, developmental differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Brain, Cognition Disorders, Decision Making, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Net, Neuropsychological Tests, Surveys and Questionnaires, Prefrontal Cortex

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