Food is discounted more steeply than money: Evidence from N2 and P3 responses in delay discounting tasks. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Mei; Liu, Tongran; Shi, Jiannong
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 142(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Delay discounting -- Food reward -- Monetary reward -- Event-related potentials -- Frontal function; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: In decision making, different rewards such as money and food may lead to different behavioral outcomes and neural dynamics. In this study, we used event-related potential (ERP) techniques and delay discounting tasks with money and snacks as rewards to determine whether there are differences in behavior and neurophysiology across the two tasks. The results showed that participants not only behaved differently but also showed different neural patterns in the money and snack tasks. In particular, at the behavioral level, participants discounted snacks more than money. At the neural level, the N2 amplitudes in the snack task were more negative than those in the money task. It was also discovered that for females, the amplitudes of P3 in the snack task were larger than those in money, while there was no difference for males. The current study showed the essential roles of frontal cognitive control function during varied delay discounting processes on money and food rewards. Highlights: Participants discounted snacks more than money. N2 amplitudes were more negative in the snack task than those in the money task. Females had larger P3 for snacks than for money. The frontal cognitive control function is essential for varied delay discounting.