Implicación de la inhibición cognitiva en el gasto financiero en jóvenes de México. Estudio preliminar en neuroeconomía / Involvement of cognitive inhibition in financial spending in young people of Mexico. Preliminary study in Neuroeconomics

Resumen La psicología y las neurociencias ofrecen nuevas perspectivas para comprender el comportamiento económico y del consumidor. La neuroeconomía provee un nuevo marco de referencia para comprender la forma en la que las estructuras neuroanatómicas del cerebro se encuentran implicadas en las decisiones financieras de los individuos. En este contexto, el objetivo de la investigación es identificar la asociación entre la inhibición cognitiva y la cantidad de dinero que gastan los universitarios. Participaron 40 jóvenes universitarios, 47.5 % hombres y 52.5 % mujeres, entre 18 y 25 años, de la Ciudad de Querétaro, México. La inhibición cognitiva se evaluó con el Test de Stroop. Además, se preguntó sobre datos sociodemográficos y los gastos mensuales. Los resultados muestran descriptivamente el nivel de gasto de los jóvenes y las puntuaciones del efecto Stroop. Los jóvenes tienen puntuaciones medias en Palabra, Color, Palabra - Color e Interferencia, acorde a los parámetros establecidos. Respecto al gasto mensual se observa que, en promedio, gastan $ 666 pesos mexicanos (34.04 USD / 31.13 EUR). Adicionalmente, se encontró un déficit en el control inhibitorio relacionado con un aumento en el nivel de gasto realizado por los estudiantes universitarios, es decir, aquellos que gastan y compran, en mayor medida presentan dificultades en su inhibición cognitiva (autocontrol). El control inhibitorio se asoció con la edad y esta, a su vez, con el nivel de dinero gastado. Por último, se profundiza en la utilidad de los resultados dentro de la neuroeconomía en México y demás países latinoamericanos, así como su aporte como línea de investigación.

Abstract Psychology and neuroscience offer new perspectives to understand consumer and economic behaviour. Neuroeconomics provides a new frame of reference to understand the way in which the neuroanatomical structures of the brain are involved in the financial decisions of people. Currently, measurement scales are an application alternative to assess people's executive functions and cognitive inhibition quickly. In the present study for the evaluation of cognitive inhibition we will use the Stroop Test (Golden, 1994), which examines the cognitive processes associated with cognitive flexibility; the interference resistance from external stimuli and its effect on behaviour. The plates that make up the Stroop test present different possibilities for analysis and interpretation. Within neuroeconomics, there is an area that investigates how cognitive and affective regulation is critical to achieve economic results, in addition to investigating the problems caused by consumption and spending that people have in their daily lives. There is research shown that individuals who make compulsive purchases show cognitive deficiencies and difficulties in inhibiting their responses. Furthermore, compulsive purchases correlate with financial executive functioning, particularly with impulse control, organization and planning, showing that compulsive purchases are not limited only to impulse control. In Latin America and particularly in Mexico, there are few studies on neuroeconomics or consumer neuroscience, so consider that this research is an innovative contribution to the subject in our region. In this context, the objective of the research is to identify the association between cognitive inhibition and the money university students spend. This research evaluated the association between cognitive inhibition and the money university students spend. A total of 40 university students participated, 47.5 % men and 52.5 % women, between 18 and 25 years, from the City of Querétaro, Mexico. Cognitive inhibition was evaluated with the Stroop Test. In addition, sociodemographic data and monthly expenses were asked. The results descriptively detailed the level of youth spending and the Stroop effect variables. Young people have mean scores in Word, Colour, Word - Colour and Interference, according to the established parameters. Regarding monthly expenses, it is observed that on average they spend $ 666 Mexican pesos (34.04 USD / 31.13 EUR). In addition, a deficit was found in the inhibitory control related to an increase in the level of expenditure made by university students, that is, those who spend and buy more have difficulties in their cognitive inhibition (self-control). Inhibitory control is associated with age and this time with the level of money spent. Additionally, the inhibition processes allows us to assume certain activity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFC), while they are ready to spend and who has problems with the control of their money, they cannot realize the excessive expenses that it does not recognize the symptoms that drive it to compulsive buying. The findings provide evidence to the neuroeconomy, as well as to the posture of cognitive control. Furthermore, it is corroborated that performance tests are an alternative in the detection of executive functioning deficiencies in a short time of application and provide evidence in the approach to neuroeconomics through this form of measurement. This offers a novel vision to understand the personal finances of Mexicans and their economic behaviour. Financial and consumer behaviour has become our main line of research from a neuroeconomic perspective; in the future, we intend to continue this study by incorporating affective and neurobehavioral factors involved in financial decisions in young people of our country. Finally, the usefulness of the results within the neuroeconomics in Mexico and Latin America is deepened, as well as its contribution as a line of research.

Patrones de ahorro y freno inhibitorio: un estudio desde la neuroeconomía conductual / Saving patterns and inhibitory control: a study within behavioral neuroeconomics / Padrões de economia e de frenagem inibitória: um estudo de neuroeconomia comportamental

La neuroeconomía es una de las neurociencias con base cognitiva ­ comportamental que ha experimentado un crecimiento teórico, metodológico y experimental bastante amplio en los últimos 20 años. Su capacidad de combinar elementos de salud cerebral como por ejemplo el adecuado freno inhibitorio que repercute necesariamente en una capacidad amplia de posponer la recompensa con comportamientos de base económica concretos como el ahorro puede implicar un nuevo eje de desarrollo de la salud mental en los estudiantes de psicología de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés en la ciudad de La Paz, Bolivia. De hecho, existe amplia evidencia documentada de que la capacidad de posponer la recompensa inmediata por un bien mayor constituye un gran predictor del rendimiento académico al mismo tiempo que deriva en habilidades positivas a lo largo de la vida. Este estudio constituye el primero en su naturaleza y área en la carrera de Psicología de la UMSA y constituye un aporte directo a la planificación de la salud mental de los estudiantes de la carrera.

Neuroeconomics is one of the cognitive and behavioral based neurosciences that has undergone a substantial growth in experimental, theoretical and methodological terms within the last 20 years. Its capacity to combine brain health factors such as an adequate inhibitory control (that necessarily will influence gratification delay) with economic-related behaviors such as saving, may generate a new axis of development of the mental health in psychology students of the Higher University of San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia. As a matter of fact, there is robust evidence that gratification delay executed in order to get a greater good constitutes in and on itself an accurate predictor of academic performance as well as positive life skills. This study is the first to be conducted on this area in the psychology undergraduate program and could be a potential contribution to the enhancement of the psycho-emotional health of the students who participated in it.

A Neuroeconomia é uma das neurociências de base cognitivo-comportamental que experimentou um amplo crescimento teórico, metodológico e experimental nos últimos 20 anos. Sua capacidade de combinar elementos de saúde cerebral, como o freio inibitório apropriado que necessariamente afeta uma ampla capacidade de adiar a recompensa com comportamentos de base econômica específicos, como poupança, pode implicar em um novo eixo de desenvolvimento da saúde mental em alunos de psicologia da Universidad Mayor de San Andrés na cidade de La Paz, Bolívia. Na verdade, há ampla evidência documentada de que a capacidade de adiar a recompensa imediata por um bem maior é um forte indicador de desempenho acadêmico, ao mesmo tempo que leva a habilidades positivas ao longo da vida. Este estudo é o primeiro em sua natureza e área na carreira de Psicologia da UMSA e constitui uma contribuição direta para o planejamento da saúde mental dos alunos da carreira.

Neuroeconomics and Psychiatry : Application of Quantitative Methodology / 신경정신의학

Neuroeconomics is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to explain human decision making using a combination of research methods from neuroscience, (behavioral) economics, and cognitive and social psychology. With recent advances in functional neuroimaging and computing power, neuroeconomics suggests the possibility of examining psychopathology using a quantitative model based on objective metrics. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the theory of neuroeconomics and to review the literature on its application to psychiatric research. First, the concept of utility function in economic decision theory can be used to explain depressive symptoms with regard to lack of interest in money. Second, differences in attitudes toward uncertainty and risk suggest that avolition and anhedonia can be expected to reduce the influence of uncertainty on decision making. Third, some parametrically varied values of delay discounting show the relation of discounted value to risk of addiction. Finally, economic game theory can provide a model including social factors to address psychiatric conditions ; thus, it provides a useful framework for the current diagnostic classification systems for consideration of interpersonal factors. We expect that conduct of more interdisciplinary research in neuroeconomics and psychiatry will clarify diagnosis and contribute to the description of psychiatric disorders.

Potenciales cerebrales relacionados a feedback en el estudio del aprendizaje y la toma de decisiones económicas / Brain Potentials Related to Feedback on the Study of Learning and Economic Decision Making

Investigaciones con Potenciales Relacionados a Eventos han demostrado la existencia de un componente llamado Negatividad Relacionada a Retroalimentación de Error, el cual ha sido referido como una deflexión negativa que distingue entre ganancias y pérdidas, en tanto resultados esperados y no esperados respectivamente. Así, mientras algunos estudios han operacionalizado la idea de resultado esperado como la probabilidad de ganar vs. Perder, otros lo han hecho como la magnitud esperada de las recompensas. Hasta ahora existe poca investigación tendiente a observar cómo estas interpretaciones alternativas de "resultado esperado", o su interacción en términos de un modelo de "valor esperado" que las integre, afectan la Negatividad Relacionada a Retroalimentación de Error. El presente trabajo contextualiza el estudio de los mecanismos cerebrales asociados a la toma de decisiones, situando los estudios de Negatividad Relacionada a Retroalimentación de Error en su contexto teórico, revisa las dos tendencias de estudio desarrolladas hasta la fecha y explora posibilidades de ampliación del estudio de este componente en el contexto del naciente campo transdisciplinario de la neuroeconomía.

Studies using Event-Related Potentials have shown the existence of a component called Feedback Error-Related Negativity (fERN). This component has been characterized as a negative deflection which responds differentially to profits and losses in terms of expected and unexpected outcomes. Thus, while some studies have defined the idea of "expected outcome" as the probability to win vs. to lose, others have defined it as the expected size of rewards. How these alternative interpretations of "expected outcome" affect the fERN's research, and the effects of their interaction under a specific model of "expected value" has not been properly assessed. This work contextualizes the general study of neural mechanisms involved in decisionmaking processes, putting the fERN studies in context; besides, it reviews the two main approaches to its research; and finally, it explores the possibilities to further expand the fERN studies, in the context of the transdisciplinary rising field of neuroeconomics.