How perception of control shapes decision making. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kainan S; Yang, Yun-Yen; Delgado, Mauricio R
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in behavioral sciences. Volume 41(2021)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-1546

Abstract

Highlights: Perceived control carries affective, motivational and protective attributes. Its affective attribute recruits the ventral striatum. Its motivational attribute is subserved by dopaminergic transmission. Its protective attribute is associated with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Perceived control is a transdiagnostic feature across psychopathologies. Abstract : Perceived control—the belief in our ability to successfully influence the environment—significantly shapes how we make decisions and interact with our environment. Because of its intrinsically rewarding nature, the opportunity to exert control tends to bias individuals towards behaviors that endow an enhanced perception of control. Here, we leverage recent behavioral and neuroimaging work to highlight three particular attributes of control (i.e. affective, motivational and protective), which contribute to how perceived control shapes decision making via the corticostriatal circuits and impacts wellbeing. We then consider how impairments in perceived control could represent a transdiagnostic feature across psychopathologies.