Although the research doesn’t elaborate why some people are more likely to choose risks than others,it shows the neural mechanisms behind the behaviourA tiny group of nerve cells deep in the brain could control risk-taking behaviour, according to new research. The discovery – in experiments on rats – could be linked to both the suburban urge for security and the gambles of merchant bankers in the City. The mechanism at work is a length of neural circuitry that connects the deep brain to a region called the nucleus accumbens, or secretes the chemical agent dopamine,a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, attention and memory. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com