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The Affective Impact of Financial Skewness on Neural Activity and Choice

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  • Charlene C Wu
  • Peter Bossaerts
  • Brian Knutson

Abstract

Few finance theories consider the influence of “skewness” (or large and asymmetric but unlikely outcomes) on financial choice. We investigated the impact of skewed gambles on subjects' neural activity, self-reported affective responses, and subsequent preferences using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). Neurally, skewed gambles elicited more anterior insula activation than symmetric gambles equated for expected value and variance, and positively skewed gambles also specifically elicited more nucleus accumbens (NAcc) activation than negatively skewed gambles. Affectively, positively skewed gambles elicited more positive arousal and negatively skewed gambles elicited more negative arousal than symmetric gambles equated for expected value and variance. Subjects also preferred positively skewed gambles more, but negatively skewed gambles less than symmetric gambles of equal expected value. Individual differences in both NAcc activity and positive arousal predicted preferences for positively skewed gambles. These findings support an anticipatory affect account in which statistical properties of gambles—including skewness—can influence neural activity, affective responses, and ultimately, choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlene C Wu & Peter Bossaerts & Brian Knutson, 2011. "The Affective Impact of Financial Skewness on Neural Activity and Choice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(2), pages 1-7, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0016838
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016838
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ebert, Sebastian, 2015. "On skewed risks in economic models and experiments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 85-97.
    3. Nicholas D Wright & Mkael Symmonds & Laurel S Morris & Raymond J Dolan, 2013. "Dissociable Influences of Skewness and Valence on Economic Choice and Neural Activity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Michael Seiler & Eric Walden, 2015. "A Neurological Explanation of Strategic Mortgage Default," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 215-230, August.
    5. Philip Grossman & Catherine Eckel, 2015. "Loving the long shot: Risk taking with skewed lotteries," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 195-217, December.
    6. Giorgio Coricelli & Enrico Diecidue & Francesco D. Zaffuto, 2018. "Evidence for multiple strategies in choice under risk," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 193-210, April.
    7. Oben K. Bayrak & John D. Hey, 2020. "Decisions under risk: Dispersion and skewness," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 1-24, August.
    8. Anum Khan & Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik, 2022. "Measuring the role of neurotransmitters in investment decision: A proposed constructs," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 258-274, January.
    9. Thomas Åstebro & José Mata & Luís Santos-Pinto, 2015. "Skewness seeking: risk loving, optimism or overweighting of small probabilities?," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 189-208, February.
    10. Christine Schmid & Kyle J. DeMars, 2020. "Angular Correlation Using Rogers-Szegő-Chaos," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-24, February.

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