Reference
Moutoussis, M., Garzón, B., Neufeld, S., NSPN Consortium, Guitart-Masip, M., Dolan, R. J. (2021). Decision-making ability, psychopathology, and brain connectivity. Neuron, 109(10), 1595-1610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.04.019
Review
The article by Moutoussis et al. (2021) examines the concept of "decision acuity," which they define as a general decision-making ability. The authors argue that decision acuity is distinct from intelligence quotient (IQ) and has implications for mental health, specifically in terms of social functioning and aberrant thinking. They also explore the relationship between decision acuity and brain connectivity.
In their study, Moutoussis et al. (2021) analyzed data from 830 young participants, who completed 32 decision-making tasks. The authors found a common factor across these tasks, which they termed decision acuity. This factor was distinct from IQ and appeared to represent a general decision-making ability. Furthermore, lower decision acuity was associated with increased psychopathology, such as aberrant thinking and decreased social functioning.
The researchers also investigated the neural basis of decision acuity by analyzing resting-state functional connectivity in the participants' brains. They discovered that decision acuity and IQ had distinct neural signatures, suggesting that the two constructs are separate cognitive processes. Importantly, the relationship between decision acuity and functional connectivity remained stable even when measured in the same individuals 18 months later, indicating that decision acuity is a consistent and measurable construct.
This study contributes to the field of computational psychiatry by introducing a new cognitive construct, decision acuity, which has potential implications for understanding mental health. The findings suggest that decision acuity may be a crucial factor in understanding psychopathology, particularly in relation to poor social function and aberrant thought patterns. Furthermore, the distinction between decision acuity and IQ sheds light on the complex nature of human cognition and the neural networks that underlie it.
Future research could explore the potential applications of decision acuity in clinical settings, as well as the development of interventions aimed at improving decision-making abilities and addressing associated psychopathology. Additionally, more in-depth investigations into the specific brain networks involved in decision acuity could provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms that govern this cognitive process.
