Individual Variability: Age-related Differences and Clinical Variation

Although neuroeconomics often seeks to identify generalizable principles of value and choice, understanding how these processes vary across individuals is essential for building models that reflect the full range of human behavior. This section explores how cognitive, affective, and motivational systems differ across populations—whether due to aging, mental health, or substance use—and how those differences shape decision making. The chapters also highlight tools such as model-based fMRI and lifespan approaches that help quantify this variability. Together, they move the field toward more flexible, person-centered accounts of decision processes with translational relevance.