Neuroeconomics and General Neural Biomarkers

Torben Larsen CAST, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winslows Vej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark Email: [email protected] Abstract. The study reviews neuroeconomic studies of Frontal integration with a view to identify components of relevance to decision-maling. Results: Four different partitions of the Frontal Cortex are identified as relevant to integration: Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex integrates emotional drives from the Mesolimbic dopamine system by inhibition of Orbitofrontal Cortex and activation of cognitive analysis by Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (dlPFC). Prospective decisions are maintained as pending goals in the Frontopolar Cortex. DlPFC is served by semantic memories recollected from Temporal Cortex and a visuospatial sketchpad in the Parietal Cortex. Conclusion: Frontal integration balances a reinforcing mesolimbic value system with Neocortical value prediction. General neural biomarkers are identified: 1) Emotional stress arising from the conflict of Limbic and Frontal systems is indicated by the basal heart rate variability and 2) Cognitive stress arising from overloaded goal-direction by dlPFC may be indicated by the basal galvanic skin conductance balance of hands.