User:Mdolan3/sandbox

The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is a test meant to measure decision making specifically within individuals who have ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage. The concept of impulsivity as relates to the IGT is one in which impulsive decisions are a function of an individual’s lack of ability to make rational decisions over time due to an over amplification of emotional/somatic reward. In the IGT individuals are provided four decks of cards to choose from. Two of these decks provide much higher rewards but the deductions are also much higher while the second two decks have lower rewards per card but also much lower deductions. Over time anyone who chooses predominantly from the high rewards decks will lose money while those who choose from the smaller rewards decks will gain money. The IGT uses hot and cold processes in its concept of decision making. Hot decision making involves emotional responses to the material presented. Cold processes occur when an individual uses rational cognitive determinations when making decisions. In general, healthy responders to the IGT will begin to drift to the lower gain decks as they realize that they are gaining more money than they lose. However, others will have emotional reactions to the higher amount given per card and will instead choose to lose money over time in order to gain more per card.