Decision-making on an explicit risk-taking task in children and adolescents with high intellectual abilities: a neuropsychological perspective

  1. Josué Pérez-Tejera 1
  2. Mariana Cairós González 2
  3. Emilio Verche 3
  4. África Borges 1
  1. 1 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

  2. 2 Universidad Internacional de Valencia
    info

    Universidad Internacional de Valencia

    Valencia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/00gjj5n39

  3. 3 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Journal:
Revista Iberoamericana de Neuropsicología

ISSN: 2594-1178

Year of publication: 2023

Volume: 6

Issue: 2

Pages: 183-195

Type: Article

More publications in: Revista Iberoamericana de Neuropsicología

Abstract

Objective: Two processing pathways have been described in explicit risk decision-making tasks: an emotional and a cognitive feedback pathway. The objective of the study was to examine decision-making on an explicit risk-taking task in children and adolescents with high intellectual abilities compared with a control group typical development and to determine whether their execution is similar or different. Methods: This study explores differences in quality of decision making between gifted (n = 28) and average intellectual ability (n = 37) students of two different age groups (children vs. adolescents). Groups were compared using the scores obtained in the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). Results: Results show that gifted students displayed better decision making as evidenced by higher cognitive self-control to postpone immediate rewards and quality ofdecision when compared to the control group. Deliberation time in gifted was fasterin the adolescent group and slower in the child group. Conclusion: This finding suggests developmental influences that need to be considered to explain the effects of the G factor in decision making skills. Procedures helpto reflect upon the contribution of controlled cognitive tasks in elucidating abilitie srelated to general intelligence. Neuropsychological basis of decision-making is briefly discussed.