Search Here

If you like risks and challenges, then be assured that you're smarter than the cautious dudes, according to a new study, reports Science Daily.

Scientists at the University of Turku in Finland used Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or fMRI, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging, or DTI, in order to examine the brains of 34 teenage males aged 18 or 19 years.

The students were divided into two groups for psychological testing. One team was tested for high risk-taking and the other for low risk-taking, said the study.

Surprisingly, the scientists found more white matter in the brains of the risk-taking group, when they checked through imaging machines.

"White matter constitutes the neural network, about 160,000 kilometers in length, that transmits signals in the form of nerve impulses and is crucial to the regulation of internal communication between the different areas of the brain," according to Alpha Galileo.

This test contradicted earlier assumptions. "We expected to find that young men who spend time considering what they are going to do in a given risk situation would have more highly developed neural networks in their brains than those who make quick decisions and take chances," said researcher Dagfinn Moe. "This has been well documented in a series of studies, but our project revealed the complete opposite."

"This finding is interesting and will be important to the way we understand the brain's development and our learning potential linked to risk-willingness," he added.