Neuroticism and ethical risk perception among employees: Neurostructural correlates in the left precuneus

Prior research using psychometric measures has yielded mixed results regarding the relationship between neuroticism and ethical risk-taking. Considering the pivotal role of ethical risk perception in influencing both ethical risk-taking and broader organizational outcomes, it is essential to explore its connection with neuroticism and the neural mechanisms underlying this link. This study employed voxel-based morphometry analysis of structural MRI data to investigate the neural correlates of ethical risk perception, measured by gray matter volume (GMV), and its association with neuroticism in a sample of 214 healthy, full-time employees. Whole-brain regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between ethical risk perception and GMV in the left precuneus. Mediation analysis further identified GMV in the left precuneus as a mediator in the relationship between neuroticism and ethical risk perception, controlling for demographic factors, total GMV, and the other traits within the Big Five personality model. These findings offer valuable insights into the neurostructural underpinnings of ethical risk perception and highlight the critical role of GMV in the left precuneus in linking neuroticism with ethical risk perception, enhancing our understanding of the neural mechanisms driving risk decision-making in the ethical domain.