Brain factors in decision-making

A number of neurotransmitters are involved in decision-making, among them:

• dopamine,
• noradrenaline,
• serotonin.

Serotonin is responsible for elementary behaviour and affects excitability, memory and attention. Serotonin disturbance may be associated with excessive impulsivity and aggression or with lack of willpower and inertia. Disturbed serotonin levels result in depression, and one of the characteristic symptoms of depression is an inability and unwillingness to make any decisions.

Noradrenaline is another important substance that determines our behaviour. It is responsible for the stimulation of the nervous system, the appropriate expenditure of energy, the initiation of actions and the maintenance of their implementation.

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However, the biggest influence on our decision-making processes is the third one mentioned, dopamine. The action of dopamine enables us to acquire movement patterns, to choose our reactions appropriately and quickly, and to learn and pursue solutions that are beneficial to us.

When we make a decision that benefits us, we feel pleasure. Expecting the desired outcome of our decisions influences motivation, action and is associated with increased dopamine release in specific brain structures.

Decision-making in older people

The loss of decision-making skills is part of the ageing process, resulting from a decline in our brain' s ability to use the experiences we have gained.

As we age, the volume of the brain decreases. Nerve cells shrink, their metabolic rate and the number of synapses decrease. The greatest changes with age are observed in:

• the frontal lobes, which are responsible for, among other things, decision-making,
• the memory area of the hippocampus,
• the parietal lobes associated with abstract language comprehension.