Time-based training can reduce impulsivity
The study, "Mechanisms of impulsive choice: II. Time-based interventions to improve self-control," was published online in the Journal of Behavioral Processes and will be part of a special publication in March. To look at impulsivity, researchers studied rat behavior, as rat brains are fairly similar to humans, especially in terms of timing and decision-making systems. "Our previous research found that individual rats with greater self-control have a better understanding of delays, which means that they can wait for a longer period of time to earn a larger reward," said Kimberly Kirkpatrick, professor of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. "We more recently conducted experiments to determine if we could teach individual rats to be less impulsive and found that time-based interventions can be an effective mechanism to increase self-control." Kirkpatrick thinks these time-based interventions could help people make better choices. ...