Erica Herzig

Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bauer, Gordon

Keywords

Iowa Gambling Task, Loss Frequency, Net Estimated Value

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is a tool used to measure decision making, yet the cognitive components which determine performance on this task have not been established. Two separate cognitive components may work together. One constituent may detect net estimated value, and the other frequency of gains and losses. Loading executive functions has been shown to block participants' ability to calculate net estimated value, while leaving the ability to determine frequency of losses intact. Previous research has found that emotional arousal aids in performance on the IGT. The goal of the current study was to verify the existence of two distinct components and to discover which component reflects emotional arousal. Two groups of participants performed the IGT while skin conductance was recorded as a measure of emotional arousal. One group performed the IGT while executive functions were blocked, and another group performed the task while listening to white noise as a control. Results showed choices were determined by frequency of losses regardless of condition, and low frequency losses were preferred over high net gain. Controls were more emotionally aroused than those with blocked executive functions, indicating executive functions were necessary to generate emotional responses. Skin conductance for controls was highest prior to high net estimated value choices. Low initial gains associated with high net estimated value choices may have appeared aversive to participants, leading to higher emotional arousal prior to making these choices.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida Libraries, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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