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Updated: May 3, 2026
Simultaneous Data Collection of fMRI and fNIRS Measurements Using a Whole-Head Optode Array and Short-Distance Channels
Published on: October 20, 2023
fNIRS derived hemodynamic signals and electrodermal responses in a sequential risk-taking task
Lisa Holper1, Robert H W ten Brincke2, Martin Wolf3
1Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory (BORL), Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; Chair of Decision Theory and Behavioral Game Theory, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 50, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) effectively measure risk attitude and decision-making performance in dynamic tasks. Electrodermal activity (EDA) does not provide comparable insights into these cognitive processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Science
Background:
- Risky decision-making involves complex cognitive and affective processes.
- Understanding individual differences in risk-taking behavior is crucial.
- Neurophysiological correlates of decision-making under risk are not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical hemodynamic and peripheral physiological signals during a dynamic risky decision-making task.
- To differentiate the roles of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electrodermal activity (EDA) in reflecting risk attitude and performance.
- To assess the utility of fNIRS and EDA as measures of risk attitude and decision quality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Just One More (JOM) task, a dynamic risky decision-making paradigm.
- Measured cortical hemodynamic signals using fNIRS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
- Quantified peripheral correlates using electrodermal activity (EDA) in 20 participants.
Main Results:
- During decision-making, fNIRS (DLPFC) reflected subjective value and risk attitude, while EDA reflected the probability of ruin.
- Following outcomes, fNIRS signals increased with gains, whereas EDA signals increased with losses, independent of risk attitude.
- fNIRS signals in the decision phase positively correlated with earnings, indicating decision performance quality.
Conclusions:
- fNIRS-derived DLPFC hemodynamic signals are sensitive to subjective value, risk attitude, and decision performance in dynamic risky tasks.
- EDA reflects affective responses to risk probability and outcomes but is independent of individual risk attitude.
- fNIRS offers a promising neurophysiological tool for studying individual differences in risk-taking and decision-making performance, outperforming EDA in this context.
