Children's brain activation during risky decision-making: A contributor to substance problems?

•Externalizing (Ext’g) children: take many risks, later develop substance/conduct problems.•Participants: 9–11 years old, both sexes, wide range of Ext’g scores.•Children made repeated risky-or-cautious decisions during fMRI.•More-Ext’g children deciding to do risky behaviors: widespread brain hypoactivity.•Ext’g children's brain function may contribute to later substance/conduct problems.