Decision-making ability, psychopathology, and brain connectivity

Decision-making is a cognitive process of central importance for the quality of our lives. Here, we ask whether a common factor underpins our diverse decision-making abilities. We obtained 32 decision-making measures from 830 young people and identified a common factor that we call decision acuity,which was distinct from IQ and reflected a generic decision-making ability. Decision acuity was decreased in those with aberrant thinking and low general social functioning. Crucially, decision acuity and IQ had dissociable brain signatures, in terms of their associated neural networks of resting-state functional connectivity. Decision acuity was reliably measured, and its relationship with functional connectivity was also stable when measured in the same individuals 18 months later. Thus, our behavioral and brain data identify a new cognitive construct that underpins decision-making ability across multiple domains. This construct may be important for understanding mental health, particularly regarding poor social function and aberrant thought patterns.

Automated summary

A common factor called decision acuity, distinct from IQ, has been identified as reflecting a generic decision-making ability. This factor is decreased in individuals with aberrant thinking and low social functioning. Decision acuity and IQ show dissociable brain signatures, with stable neural network relationships over time, and may be crucial for understanding mental health, particularly in relation to social dysfunction and abnormal thought patterns.