Common and distinct neural correlates of intertemporal and risky decision-making: Meta-analytical evidence for the dual-system theory

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 141; p. 104851
• Main Authors: Cui, Lidan, Ye, Meng, Sun, Lingyun, Zhang, Shunmin, He, Guibing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2022
• Subjects: ALE; Dual-system theory; Intertemporal decision-making; Meta-analysis; Risky decision-making; ALE; Dual-system theory; Intertemporal decision-making; Risky decision-making; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104851

The relationship between intertemporal and risky decision-making has received considerable attention in decision research. Single-process theories suggest that choices involving delay and risk are simply two manifestations of the same psychological mechanism, which implies similar patterns of neural activation. Conversely, the dual-system theory suggests that delayed and risky choices are two contrasting types of processes, which implies distinct brain networks. How these two types of choices relate to each other remains unclear. The current study addressed this issue by performing a meta-analysis of 28 intertemporal decision-making studies (862 subjects) and 51 risky decision-making studies (1539 subjects). We found no common area activated in the conjunction analysis of the delayed and risky rewards. Based on the contrast analysis, delayed rewards were associated with stronger activation in the left dorsal insula, while risky rewards were associated with activation in the bilateral ventral striatum and the right anterior insula. The results align with the dual-system theory with separate neural networks for delayed and risky rewards. •Neural signatures of delayed and risky rewards are compared.•Delayed and risky rewards engaged distinct neural circuits.•Delay elicited more activation in left dorsal insula than risk.•Risk elicited more activation in VS and right anterior insula than delay.•The meta-analysis findings favor the dual-system theory.