DIP: 18.02.015/20251003 
DOI: 10.25215/2455/1003015 
Abstract
Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying risk-taking behavior in high-stakes financial decision-making is crucial for both neuroscience and behavioral economics. This study investigates the neural correlates of risk-taking in professional stock traders using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A sample of experienced traders was assessed while engaging in a simulated trading task that incorporated varying levels of risk and potential reward. Brain activation patterns were analyzed to identify regions associated with risk processing, valuation, and emotional regulation. The findings revealed heightened activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior insula, and nucleus accumbens during high-risk decisions. In contrast, lower-risk scenarios elicited increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), suggesting a greater reliance on cognitive control. These results suggest that professional traders exhibit distinct neural profiles when evaluating risk, which may reflect specialized adaptations developed through experience. The study contributes to the growing field of neuroeconomics by elucidating how expertise modulates risk-related brain activity.
The author(s) appreciates all those who participated in the study and helped to facilitate the research process. 
The author(s) declared no conflict of interest. 
ISSN 2455-670X