[The neural bases of loss aversion in economic contexts: a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines].

INTRODUCTION

Kahneman and Tversky's prospect theory has become the main model for the study of decision-making. One of its cornerstones, the loss aversion bias (greater sensitivity to losses than to gains), has been demonstrated from the behavioural perspective.

AIMS: To analyse the evidence from neuroeconomics and check whether it is consistent with the existence of a neural mechanism of loss aversion.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A systematic review was performed, following the PRISMA guidelines, of the empirical studies found in PubMed and ScienceDirect, a total of 18 studies being included altogether.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSIONS

The results consistently point to the implication of two opposing neural systems in this bias: one appetitive, involving the striatum and the frontal regions, and one aversive, involving the amygdala and the insula, which interact with each other when it comes to making a decision about different monetary bets and display a higher sensitivity towards losses. Although their functioning is not yet clear, what does seem evident is that the consistent involvement of these structures lends support to prospect theory and the limited rationality approach.