Affective temperament, frontal functions and decision making style in healthy subjects

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this work was to assess affective temperament and frontal function in 30 healthy subjects - military pilots, which job is associated with risk decision making.
Material and metods. For affective temperament assessment the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) were used, Trail Making Test (TMT) and Stroop test for evaluation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functions and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) for ventro-medial prefrontal functions assessment.
Results. In investigated group more prevalence was hyperthymic and depressive temperament. Hyperthymic temperament was connected with high risk style of decision making in IGT, while depressive temperament with safe style in first phase of decision making process and high risk style in the terminal phase of decision making. The results of TMT and Stroop test didn’t correlated with IGT performance and also with the results of TEMPS-A scale.
Conclusions. The results obtained indicate an association of affective temperament with predisposition to take up risk tasks in the work and style of decision making in healthy persons, however the role of cognitive functions connected with activity of dorsolateral and ventro-medial prefrontal cortex are in these processes different.
Psychiatry 2010; 7, 2: 47-52