Document Detail


Sweet future: fluctuating blood glucose levels affect future discounting.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20424042     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This study explored metabolic mechanisms of future (delay) discounting, a choice phenomenon where people value present goods over future goods. Using fluctuating blood glucose as an index of body-energy budget, optimal discounting should regulate choice among rewards as a function of temporal caloric requirement. We identified this novel link between blood glucose levels measured in the lab and future-discounting rates of participants, who made choices between a "smaller and sooner" reward and a "larger but later" option, with possible actual monetary rewards. A group of participants who drank a soft drink that contained sugar showed a reduced rate of future discounting afterward, when we controlled for sex, age, body mass index, and the taste of the drink. In contrast, a group of participants who drank a soft drink that contained artificial sweetener showed an increased rate of future discounting. Blood glucose levels not only varied as a result of caloric intake but also regulated the rate of future discounting, according to participants' dynamic body-energy budget.
Authors:
X T Wang; Robert D Dvorak
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2010-01-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychological science     Volume:  21     ISSN:  1467-9280     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychol Sci     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-28     Completed Date:  2010-09-27     Revised Date:  2011-09-06    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9007542     Medline TA:  Psychol Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  183-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA. xtwang@usd.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Blood Glucose / metabolism*
Choice Behavior / physiology*
Cognition / physiology
Decision Making / physiology
Energy Intake / physiology
Energy Metabolism / physiology
Female
Humans
Intention
Male
Middle Aged
Motivation*
Reward*
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Blood Glucose

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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