Stay away from "temptation": The regulatory mechanisms and relevant neural basis for the association between pre-commitment and intertemporal choice

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1042.2018.01869

Abstract

Abstract:

Pre-commitment, as an effective self-control strategy, can reduce the impulsivity of decision- making primarily through precluding the options in advance that may prompt individuals to make impulsive decisions. Pre-commitment regulates the intertemporal choice primarily via activating the lateral frontopolar cortex (LFPC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), which is also affected by self-control, value estimation, trait impulsivity, punishment sensitivity and other relevant psychological processes. This study proposes an integrated model, which contains cognitive mechanism and neural basis for the role of pre-commitment in reducing impulsive decision-making. The model provides theoretical foundation and important implications for reducing impulsive decision-making. Future research should continue to examine the psychological and neural mechanisms for the regulatory role of pre-commitment in intertemporal choice. Additionally, it is significant to investigate how pre-commitment impacts decision making in applied research.

Key words: pre-commitment, intertemporal choice, self-control, value estimation, neural basis

Zhenhua LI, Kai DOU, Yangang NIE. Stay away from "temptation": The regulatory mechanisms and relevant neural basis for the association between pre-commitment and intertemporal choice[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2018, 26(10): 1869-1877.

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