Citation

Spinella M, Yang Lester B, Lester D. Int. J. Neurosci. 2004; 114(10): 1323-1332.

Affiliation

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, New Jersey, USA. marcello.spinella@stockton.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00207450490476011

PMID

15370189

Abstract

Credit card use often involves a disadvantageous allocation of finances because they allow for spending beyond means and buying on impulse. Accordingly they are associated with increased bankruptcy, anxiety, stress, and health problems. Mounting evidence from functional neuroimaging and clinical studies implicates prefrontal-subcortical systems in processing financial information. This study examined the relationship of credit card debt and executive functions using the Frontal System Behavior Scale (FRSBE). After removing the influences of demographic variables (age, sex, education, and income), credit card debt was associated with the Executive Dysfunction scale, but not the Apathy or Disinhibition scales. This suggests that processes of conceptualizing and organizing finances are most relevant to credit card debt, and implicates dorsolateral prefrontal dysfunction.

Language: en