Genetic disorder reveals the potential gambler in us all

The study, co-authored by Dr Benedetto De Martino (UCL Institute of Neurology), and published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , looked at a phenomenon known as 'loss aversion' in two patients with lesions to the amygdala, the region deep within the brain that is involved in emotions and decision-making.   'Loss aversion' describes the process by which we avoid choices that can lead to losses, even when accompanied by equal or much larger gains. An everyday example would be how we make a decision on whether to proceed with an operation: the more serious the potential complications ? even if the risk is low compared to the chances of success ? the less likely we would be to proceed. To explore whether loss aversion is mediated by the amygdala, the researchers studied two patients affected by a rare genetic condition that has led to the formation of lesions. These lesions prevent the patients from perceiving, recognising or feeling fear. Dr Benedetto De Martino (UCL Institute of Neurology) and first author, explains: "Imagine you're on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. You've just answered the £500,000 question correctly and have moved on to the final question.