Self-other Differences In Intertemporal Choice Based On Neuroregulatory Techniques Study

Intertemporal choice refers to various judgments and choices made by individuals by weighing the costs and benefits at different time points.It is usually necessary to choose between two reward options,the immediate reward option consisting of a smaller amount and a sooner time,and the delayed reward option consisting of a larger amount and a later time.It is found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in the cognitive control and goal planning process of intertemporal choice.At present,the research is mostly for self,but less for others.The purpose of this study is to explore the behavioral mechanisms that influence intertemporal choice and the differences between decisions made for self and for others by stimulating DLPFC with non-invasive neuroregulatory techniques.The Experiment 1 was to study the self-other difference in intertemporal choice based on transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS).By using tDCS technique,a 3(tDCS stimulation type: F3+F4-,F3-F4+,sham)× 3(decision-maker role: choice for self,for parents,for strangers)× 2(time type: immediate-delayed,delayed-delayed)in withinsubjects design was used.After 1.5 m A and 20 minutes of tDCS stimulation,27 subjects(14 males and 13 females)were collected for their choice preferences in intertemporal choice task.In Experiment 2,self-other differences in intertemporal choice were studied based on continuous theta burst stimulation(c TBS).By using transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)technique,3(c TBS stimulation location: leftDLPFC,rightDLPFC,and CZ)× 3(decision-maker role: choice for self,for parents,for strangers)× 2(time type: immediate-delayed,delayed-delayed)was designed in a within-subjects design.After 40 seconds of c TBS stimulation,the choice preferences of 36 subjects(18 females)in intertemporal choice task were collected.The results showed that tDCS stimulation did not change the choice preference of intertemporal choice.The c TBS stimulation on the leftDLPFC reduced the choice preference for immediate reward and delayed reward for themselves,resulting in difference between self and parents,and greater preference for delayed reward for themselves than for their parents.We found that the decision-maker role influenced the choice preference of intertemporal choice.Participants preferred to choose smaller and sooner reward for ourselves than for complete strangers.Time type affected the choice preference of intertemporal choice.The immediate-delayed rewards were more likely to choose immediate rewards.The difference of reward amount affected the choice preference of intertemporal choice.When participants faced with low rewards difference,they were more likely to immediate reward.However,when participants faced with high rewards difference,they tended to delay rewards.Our study demonstrated that neuroregulatory techniques regulating the activity of DLPFC can change the choice preference for intertemporal choice,and the inhibition of the activity of leftDLPFC by c TBS can effectively regulate the intertemporal choice behavior related to individuals.