Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective. 
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Life Narratives and the Ten Aspects of the Big Five Across Open-Ended and Targeted Prompts.

Journal of personality·2026
Same author

Attention control ability is associated with frontoparietal control network interactions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Distinct Event-Related-Potential Biomarkers of Broad Versus Specific Dimensions of the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology Externalizing Spectrum.

Clinical psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science·2026
Same author

Methane by the Numbers: The Need for Clear and Comparable Methane Intensity Metrics.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Are the metatraits fact or artifact? Ruling out alternative explanations for the higher-order factors of the Big Five.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2026
Same author

The Efficacy of Methane Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) Programs in Practice.

ACS ES&T air·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
07:47

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task

Published on: January 9, 2016

Individual differences in delay discounting: relation to intelligence, working memory, and anterior prefrontal

Noah A Shamosh1, Colin G Deyoung, Adam E Green

  • 1Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

Psychological Science
|October 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Lower delay discounting, indicating better self-control, is linked to higher intelligence. This relationship is partly explained by working memory processes in the anterior prefrontal cortex.

More Related Videos

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
09:12

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
07:47

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task

Published on: January 9, 2016

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
09:12

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Lower delay discounting, reflecting better self-control, is associated with higher general intelligence (g).
  • The underlying neural and cognitive mechanisms connecting self-control and intelligence remain unclear.
  • Working memory (WM) is a potential mediator due to its role in cognitive control and executive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of working memory (WM) in the relationship between delay discounting and general intelligence (g).
  • To examine the neural correlates of WM, delay discounting, and intelligence using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Main Methods:

  • 103 healthy adults completed assessments of delay discounting, general intelligence (g), and working memory (span tasks, 3-back task).
  • fMRI was used to measure WM-related neural activity, particularly in the anterior prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 10).

Main Results:

  • Delay discounting was negatively correlated with both general intelligence (g) and working memory (WM) capacity.
  • Working memory did not explain unique variance in delay discounting beyond general intelligence.
  • Neural activity in the left anterior prefrontal cortex partially mediated the association between general intelligence and delay discounting.

Conclusions:

  • The link between self-control (delay discounting) and intelligence (g) is partially mediated by working memory processes.
  • Anterior prefrontal cortex activity, supporting information integration, is crucial for this relationship.
  • These findings highlight the role of executive functions and neural mechanisms in bridging self-control and cognitive ability.