title: Among three different executive functions, general executive control ability is a key predictor of decision making under objective risk.
abstract: Executive functioning is supposed to have an important role in decision making under risk. Several studies reported that more advantageous decision-making behavior was accompanied by better performance in tests of executive functioning and that the decision-making process was accompanied by activations in prefrontal and subcortical brain regions associated with executive functioning. However, to what extent different components of executive functions contribute to decision making is still unclear. We tested direct and indirect effects of three executive functions on decision-making performance in a laboratory gambling task, the Game of Dice Task (GDT). Using Brand's model of decisions under risk (2006) we tested seven structural equation models with three latent variables that represent executive functions supposed to be involved in decision making. The latent variables were general control (represented by the general ability to exert attentional and behavioral self-control that is in accordance with task goals despite interfering information), concept formation (represented by categorization, rule detection, and set maintenance), and monitoring (represented by supervision of cognition and behavior). The seven models indicated that only the latent dimension general control had a direct effect on decision making under risk. Concept formation and monitoring only contributed in terms of indirect effects, when mediated by general control. Thus, several components of executive functioning seem to be involved in decision making under risk. However, general control functions seem to have a key role. They may be important for implementing the calculative and cognitively controlled processes involved in advantageous decision making under risk.
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiebener
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wegmann
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gathmann
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laier
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlikowski
authors.affiliation: General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen Duisburg, Germany ; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brand
keywords: Game of Dice Task; decisions under risk; executive functions; monitoring; self-control; structural equation model