Review

Affective vs. Rational Decision-Making: The Spectrum of Serotonin in Economic Behavior

Volume: 3 Number: 1 December 29, 2025
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Affective vs. Rational Decision-Making: The Spectrum of Serotonin in Economic Behavior

Abstract

Alongside dopamine, serotonin is one of the most extensively studied neurotransmitters in neurofinance, serving as an important neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and hormone with significant effects on human behavior. Despite extensive research, serotonin is arguably the most complex neurochemical and stands out due to its pronounced influence on daily life. These characteristics primarily arise from the interaction between anxiety—one of the most fundamental affective states at the psychic level—and the amygdala, the brain’s core affective processing region. This interaction makes serotonin both highly significant and a multilayered neurochemical entity. This article examines serotonin’s behavioral roles and its effects on decision-making mechanisms within behavioral and neurofinance contexts. Additionally, it aims to comprehensively introduce serotonin’s impact on loss, risk, impulsivity, delay discounting, motivation, cognition, altruism, and prosocial behaviors. The article seeks to contribute to neurofinance literature by addressing both the neurobiological foundations of the serotonin system and its functional effects on economic decision-making through an integrative approach.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Behavioural Finance

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

December 29, 2025

Submission Date

June 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 3 Number: 1

APA
Polat, Y. (2025). Affective vs. Rational Decision-Making: The Spectrum of Serotonin in Economic Behavior. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu Dergisi, 3(1), 15-34. https://izlik.org/JA52LM78CK