Predicting entrepreneurship from brain structure and neural responses to risk and ambiguity
Loading...
Access rights
openAccess
CC BY-NC-ND
CC BY-NC-ND
publishedVersion
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Date
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
16
Series
Scientific Reports, Volume 15, issue 1, pp. 1-16
Abstract
In what way do entrepreneurs differ from non-entrepreneurs? We conducted a comprehensive analysis of behavioral responses, brain activation patterns, and gray matter volume (GMV) to compare entrepreneurs with a control group of employees who lack entrepreneurial backgrounds but often hold managerial responsibilities. Using behavioral, fMRI and GMV data, we applied a machine learning approach to predict participants’ likelihood of being classified as entrepreneurs. Our findings suggest brain activation in valuation-related areas varies with risk attitudes. Structural analysis reveals a significant negative association between dorsomedial prefrontal cortex GMV and participants’ risk attitudes, while risk-taking propensity, especially among entrepreneurs, exhibits a positive relationship with GMV in the right and left anterior insula. Notably, the predictive model integrating valuation decisions with fMRI data from risky trials demonstrates the highest accuracy in classifying participants as entrepreneurs. These results highlight the significance of immediate brain responses to risk as a robust predictor of entrepreneurial propensity, offering new insights into the neural basis of high-risk tolerance in entrepreneurship.Description
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
Keywords
Other note
Citation
Halko, M L, Lahti, T, Hytönen, K, Wincent, J, Jääskeläinen, I P & Schürmann, M 2025, 'Predicting entrepreneurship from brain structure and neural responses to risk and ambiguity', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 32203, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14564-1