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Because adolescents have heightened risk-taking behaviors, these investigators examined differences in neural activity in 22 teenagers (mean age, 15) and 19 adults (mean age, 27) as they completed an established, computerized gambling task that was modified to accommodate the younger group.
The task required deciding whether to accept or reject a gamble based on the possible gain and loss (e.g., gain of $6 or loss of $18). Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging after making their choices, but before knowing the outcome. The age groups did not differ by their acceptance of trials with expected positive, negative, or neutral outcomes. Teenagers' monetary worth (e.g., from allowances or jobs) did not affect outcomes.
Compared with adu…