Abstract
A number of maladaptive behaviors and poor health outcomes (e.g., substance abuse, obesity) correlate with impulsive choice, which describes the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards in lieu of larger, delayed rewards. Working memory deficits are often reported in those diagnosed with the same maladaptive behaviors. Human studies suggest that impulsive choice is associated with working memory ability but, to date, only one study has explored the association between working memory and impulsive choice in rats and no relation was reported. The current study reevaluated the association between working memory and impulsive choice in 19 male Long-Evans rats. Psychophysical adjusting procedures were used to quantify working memory (titrating-delay match-to-position procedure) and impulsive choice (adjusting delay procedure). Rats were partitioned into low- and high-impulsive groups based on performance in the impulsive choice task. Low-impulsive rats performed significantly better in the working memory assessment. Across all rats, impulsive choice was negatively correlated with working memory performance. These findings support the hypothesis that prefrontal cortex function, specifically, working memory, is related to impulsive choice. Future research might profitably examine the experimental variables designed to influence working memory to evaluate the effects of these variables on impulsive choice and maladaptive behaviors with which it is correlated.
Highlights
Impulsivity is a multi-dimensional construct describing behavioral tendencies to act prematurely, engage in risk-taking and sensation-seeking, to make impulsive choices, etc. [1]
Recall that retention intervals increased with accuracy, so retention intervals serve as a metric of working memory ability
HiI rats exhibited poorer working memory performance as indicated by significantly lower retention intervals compared to rats in the low-impulsive rats (LoI) group
Summary
Impulsivity is a multi-dimensional construct describing behavioral tendencies to act prematurely, engage in risk-taking and sensation-seeking, to make impulsive choices, etc. [1]. A good deal of interest in delay discounting derives from the robust, positive correlation between steep discounting and substance dependence/abuse [2] and emerging evidence that steep delay discounting is correlated with obesity [3], pathological gambling [4,5], risky drug use [6], and risky sexual behavior [7]. The nature of these correlations is not well understood, with evidence suggesting that steep delay discounting both precedes and predicts drug use [8,9,10], and that chronic drug use yields neuroadaptations that increase delay discounting [11]. An unexplored third variable may account for the correlation between steep delay discounting and drug use [12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
