New findings may help researchers understand gambling.
A region of our brain just above the left ear could be responsible for the human ability to resist temptation and wait around to reap rewards, a new study finds. The results show that when this brain region, called the left lateral prefrontal cortex, is impaired, people are more likely to choose immediate yet smaller rewards over larger rewards that won’t come until later. The findings may one day help researchers better understand substance abuse and gambling. This region matures rather late during puberty and even during adolescence and into young adulthood. So this can help explain why adolescents often have a hard time delaying gratification.
Researchers enrolled 52 college-aged men who had short magnet pulses applied to specific brain regions. They received stimulations to either their left or right prefrontal cortex. Then, they completed several tasks involving choices, answering questions like ‘Would you prefer $20 dollars today or $30 in two weeks?’ Those who received stimulations to their left lateral prefrontal cortex often chose the sooner, smaller rewards compared with the other group. But if both choices were in the future ($20 in two weeks versus $30 in four weeks), there was no real difference. This suggests the effect only comes into play when subjects have to resist tempting, immediate rewards.