The Protective Role of Cold Executive Functions Against Risk-Taking in Adolescents and Adults

• In Event: Neurobiological Factors for Antisocial Behaviors Among Youth Samples

Abstract

Although deficits in executive functions (EF) have been shown to characterize antisocial individuals, few studies have differentiated between the “hot” and “cold” components of these cognitive processes. This study tests whether poorer performance on assessments of cold EF in emotionally neutral contexts and hot EF in the presence of motivational and affective stimuli is associated with increased externalizing behavior in a community sample of child-parent dyads. Analyses were conducted on 396 adolescents (mean age = 14.81 years) and 393 of their parents (mean age = 45.39 years). Cold and hot EF were assessed in both groups using neuropsychological tests, alongside parent and child externalizing behavior. A significant hot EF x cold EF interaction was found in both samples. Adolescents and adults with increased risk taking on a hot EF task, but higher cold EF scores, exhibited lower levels of externalizing behavior. Adults with reduced performance on both hot and cold EF tasks exhibited the highest levels of externalizing behavior. Results show that in the presence of increased risky decision making, higher cold EF acts as a protective factor against externalizing behavior. Findings point to the possibility of targeting deficits in cold EF in interventions to reduce externalizing behavior.

Authors

• Olivia Choy, Nanyang Technological University

• Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania