Investigating associations of delay discounting with brain structure, working memory, and episodic memory

Abstract

Introduction Delay discounting (DD), the preference for smaller and sooner rewards over larger and later ones, is an important behavioural phenomenon for daily functioning of increasing interest within psychopathology. The neurobiological mechanisms behind DD are not well understood and the literature on structural correlates of DD shows inconsistencies. Methods Here we leveraged a large openly available dataset (n = 1196) to investigate associations with memory performance and gray and white matter correlates of DD using linked independent component analysis. Results Greater DD was related to smaller anterior temporal gray matter volume. Associations of DD with total cortical volume, subcortical volumes, markers of white matter microscopic organization, working memory, and episodic memory scores were not significant after controlling for education and income. Conclusion Effects of size comparable to the one we identified would be unlikely to be replicated with sample sizes common in many previous studies in this domain, which may explain the incongruities in the literature. The paucity and small size of the effects detected in our data underscore the importance of using large samples together with methods that accommodate their statistical structure and appropriate control for confounders, as well as the need to devise paradigms with improved task parameter reliability in studies relating brain structure and cognitive abilities with DD.

Patients with episodic migraine without aura have an increased rate of delayed discounting

“…In other words, the increased subjective discount rate observed in migraineurs compared to controls was directly related to the duration of migraine. These results are consistent with previous reports that steep discounting is not simply an indicator of poor cognitive functioning (Garzon et al., 2023 ; Yeh et al., 2021 ). This indicates that the higher rate of delayed discounting may be an intrinsic, stable behavioral feature in patients with migraine rather than restricted to migraine patients with drug abuse, who may be affected by migraine pathology rather than cognitive function.…”

“…Delay discounting refers to the extent to which the value of a reward decreases as the delay to receipt increases. Steeper delay discounting rates are associated with numerous health conditions, such as medication overuse headaches, neurodegenerative diseases, addictive disorders, and obesity (Amlung et al., 2019 ; Elton et al., 2019 ; Garzon et al., 2023 ; Koban et al., 2023 ; Niddam et al., 2023 ; Wang et al., 2020 ; Yeh et al., 2021 ; Zeng et al., 2022 ). Patients with medication overuse headaches showed higher impulsivity (Niddam et al., 2023 ) and were associated with substance abuse, making them more likely to develop chronic or substance‐abuse migraines.…”

EngAge – A metacognitive intervention to supplement working memory training: A feasibility study in older adults

“…In particular, the dopaminergic system is known to be implicated in WM performance, cognitive control, as well as learning and plasticity (e.g., [4] , [12] . Indeed, it has been demonstrated that WM training-related transfer is mediated by dopaminergic modulation of the prefrontal cortex, especially in older adults (e.g., [6] , [3] , [18] , [24] , [42] , [70] . Moreover, the dopaminergic system supports a range of motivational processes (e.g., effort, engagement, reward; [44] , [84] , and has also been found to regulate metacognitive processes (e.g., [36] .…”

Episodic future thinking predicts differences in delay discounting: The mediating role of hippocampal structure

“…Neuroanatomical structure can reflect individual differences in various cognitive processes ( Gaser and Schlaug, 2003 ; Gilaie-Dotan et al, 2011 ; Song et al, 2011 ; Kong et al, 2015 ), also including delay discounting ( Guo et al, 2017 ; Owens et al, 2017 ; Lempert et al, 2020 ). Delay discounting has been found to be associated with structural features of brain regions involved in EFT such as the MTL and middle temporal gyrus ( Owens et al, 2017 ; Lempert et al, 2020 ; Garzón et al, 2022 ). Here, we utilized the VBM method to uncover the prediction of the EFT on delay discounting.…”