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Cortisol and Decision Making

Meaning

This concept describes the direct and pervasive influence of the primary glucocorticoid hormone, cortisol, on complex cognitive processes, specifically those related to executive function, risk assessment, and the final selection of a choice. Cortisol levels, particularly those acutely elevated during psychological or physiological stress, profoundly modulate neural activity in key brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. The dynamic interaction between circulating cortisol and these neural circuits significantly impacts an individual’s propensity for cautious versus potentially risky decision-making under pressure.