Gain and Loss in Optimistic Versus Pessimistic Brains

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2010) — Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).


A paper about the research -- led by Richard A. Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience at Caltech -- appears in the August issue of PLoS Biology.

Research in Andersen's laboratory includes work to understand the neural mechanisms of action planning and decision-making. The lab is working toward the development of implanted neural prosthetic devices that would serve as an interface between severely paralyzed individuals' brain signals and artificial limbs -- allowing their planned actions to control the limbs' movements.

In particular, Andersen's group focuses on a high-level area of the brain called the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), where sensory stimuli are transformed into movement plans.

more

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100804151500.htm

Subjects who reported they were "good" at the task (optimists) showed highest brain activity when they expected large gains; subjects who thought they performed "poorly" (pessimists) showed highest brain activity when they tried to avoid large losses. Yellow regions show brain areas with highest motor planning activity; green and red regions depict areas that exhibited the strongest modulation in activity relative to the subjective absolute value. (Credit: Igor Kagan/Caltech)

[opihimoimoi]

1. KnR....This Helps to explain the GOPers NEG VIEW/OUTLOOK

THEY WANT FAILURE

They Work for it

[snagglepuss]

2. Fascinating. Bkmrkd to read later. nt

[girl gone mad]

3. Add this to the research showing..

defensive pessimists are best prepared to handle the realities of life and therefore make the most effective leaders. Optimists have difficulties understanding and accepting the possibility and dangers of negative outcomes.

It's also been proven that people who are inept or incompetent do not know that they are inept or incompetent. Most people simply are not aware of their limitations. Pessimists, by nature, have a better grasp on their own weaknesses and realize when their successes are owed to luck, nepotism, or chance and not simply skill or hard work.

[Jim__]

4. "... their subjective perception..."

Furthermore, the researchers found that the pattern of brain activity in the PPC was linked to how well the subjects believed they had done on the tasks -- that is, their subjective perception of their performance, rather than their actual performance -- as well as by the monetary gain or loss they expected from success or failure.

Isn't all perception subjective?