Oct 13 2008
Why Do Some People Take Risks While Others Don’t?
New research shows whether we take risks — based on whether we might succeed or fail — is controlled by two regions in the brain.
Researchers at the USC Brain and Creativity Institute had participants take part in a task that measured risk tolerance. The researchers measured participatns’ responses to the task by utilizing functional magnetic resonence imaging (FMRI), which looks at different regions in the brain and how they function.
The researchers were able to identify two regions in the brain that are responsible for different reactions to possible risk. One region is active in individuals who tend to take risks in order to achieve possible success while another region is active in individuals who are afraid of taking risks for fear of failure. Both of the regions are located in the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is responsible for planning and analysis.
These are some interesting findings and may account for differences in individuals’ willingness to take risks in life.
Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!
Source:
Medical News Today: Imaging Study Reveals Battle Between Lure of Reward And Fear of Failure
