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The child brain computes and utilizes internalized maternal choices
Seung-Lark Lim1, J Bradley C Cherry2, Ann M Davis2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5030 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA.
Nature Communications
|May 25, 2016
Summary
Children use their mother's perceived choices to help make their own healthy decisions. The brain's left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) are involved in this decision-making process.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Children's decision-making abilities develop gradually.
- Self-regulation and executive functions are crucial for making healthy choices.
- Choosing healthy foods can be difficult for children due to immature cognitive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the computational decision-making process in children.
- To understand how children estimate their mother's choices and their own preferences.
- To explore the neural mechanisms underlying children's food choices.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during real food choices.
- Researchers analyzed brain activity in relation to children's preferences and perceived maternal choices.
- Functional connectivity between brain regions was examined.
Main Results:
- The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) encodes children's own food preferences.
- The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) encodes perceived maternal choices.
- The left dlPFC showed inhibitory functional connectivity with the vmPFC during choice selection.
Conclusions:
- Children incorporate perceived caregiver choices into their own decision-making.
- Perceived caregiver choices may act as an external regulator for healthier decisions.
- This process supports the development of independent, optimal decision-making in children.
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