discounting the future: neural correlates, and emotion (again!)

via world of psychology:

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University and Princeton University found two areas of the brain that appear to compete for control over behavior when a person attempts to balance near-term rewards with long-term goals. The research involved imaging people’s brains as they made choices between small but immediate rewards or larger rewards that they would receive later.

after reading further, this once again becomes a struggle between emotion and rationality:

"Our emotional brain has a hard time imagining the future, even though our logical brain clearly sees the future consequences of our current actions," Laibson said. "Our emotional brain wants to max out the credit card, order dessert and smoke a cigarette. Our logical brain knows we should save for retirement, go for a jog and quit smoking. To understand why we feel internally conflicted, it will help to know how myopic and forward-looking brain systems value rewards and how these systems talk to one another."

first, discounting the future can be seen as quite rational, and really makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint. back in the day, we were trained to take every opportunity as it presented itself. the future is uncertain, and nature holds no promise of $11 tomorrow instead of $10 today. in addition, in a modern sense discounting the future is rational again because we still don't know what that future will bring. if i choose one scoop of ice cream today instead of two tomorrow, it makes sense. not only am i not sure if tomorrow will provide an even better opportunity - maybe i'll get three scoops for some reason tomorrow, but i am also not sure if i'll even be around to take that opportunity. i could have a massive coronary (unrelated to my massive ice cream consumption, of course) and die, therefore not not ever enjoying any ice cream at all.

scientifically speaking:

The study showed that decisions involving the possibility of immediate reward activated parts of the brain influenced heavily by brain systems that are associated with emotion. In contrast, all the decisions the students made — whether short- or long-term — activated brain systems that are associated with abstract reasoning.

those choosing the delayed reward showed stronger activation in their abstract reasoning systems. i'm assuming they're speaking of the insular cortex, which has been implicated in that role before. i've also noted before that the insular cortex is related to more than just emotion.

Labels: decision making, neuroscience