Cited by 693Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesDecision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The neural mechanisms of inter-temporal decision-making: understanding variability

Peters, Jan, Büchel, Christian·2011·Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Abstract

Humans and animals prefer immediate over delayed rewards (delay discounting). This preference for smaller-but-sooner over larger-but-later rewards shows substantial interindividual variability in healthy subjects. Moreover, a strong bias towards immediate reinforcement characterizes many psychiatric conditions such as addiction and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. We discuss the neural mechanisms underlying delay discounting and describe how interindividual variability (trait effects) in the neural instantiation of subprocesses of delay discounting (such as reward valuation, cognitive control and prospection) contributes to differences in behaviour. We next discuss different interventions that can partially remedy impulsive decision-making (state effects). Although the precise neural mechanisms underlying many of these modulating influences are only beginning to be unravelled, they point towards novel treatment approaches for disorders of impulse control.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.tics.2011.03.002

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Authors
Peters, J., & Büchel, C.
Affiliations
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
Corresponding author
Peters, Jan
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-05
Volume
15
Issue
5
Pages
227-239
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2082648681
Cited by
693
References
166
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 88 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 57 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 29
FWCI
3.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
delay discounting, intertemporal choice, interindividual variability, impulsivity, reward valuation, cognitive control, prospection, addiction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, impulse control disorders, neural mechanisms, therapeutic interventions
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Mapping, Cognition, Computer Simulation, Decision Making, Humans, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Reward, Temporal Lobe, Behavior, Addictive, Comprehension

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