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

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...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
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.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Social network mechanisms of behavior change in alcohol use disorder recovery: A longitudinal observational cohort study.

Journal of psychopathology and clinical science·2026
Same author

Systematic comparison of MPRAGE and BRAVO T1-weighted MRI pulse sequences and brain morphometry in high-risk young adults.

Magnetic resonance imaging·2026
Same author

Garbage in, garbage out: stringent quality control of behavioral data boosts signal in brain-behavior associations.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2026
Same author

The Genoeconomics of Impulsive Intertemporal Choice: A Critical Review.

Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior·2026
Same author

High‑Resolution Clinical Profiling of Age and Sex Differences in Substance Use Severity, Comorbidity, and Impulsivity in Two Large Treatment Samples.

Substance use & misuse·2026
Same author

Functional magnetic response imaging predictors of alcohol use disorder treatment outcome: a systematic review.

Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 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

Delayed reward discounting and addictive behavior: a meta-analysis.

James MacKillop1, Michael T Amlung, Lauren R Few

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. jmackill@uga.edu

Psychopharmacology
|March 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Individuals with addictive behaviors show significantly higher delayed reward discounting (DRD), a measure of impulsivity. This meta-analysis confirms greater impulsivity in those with addiction disorders, impacting assessment and research priorities.

More Related Videos

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 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

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Delayed reward discounting (DRD) quantifies impulsivity and is frequently studied in relation to addictive behaviors.
  • Existing literature on DRD and addiction shows varied findings, necessitating a comprehensive synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To meta-analyze studies comparing DRD in individuals with addictive behaviors versus control groups.
  • To characterize overall patterns, study variability, and publication bias in DRD research related to addiction.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis of 46 studies (N=56,013) comparing DRD between addictive and control groups was conducted.
  • Initial analysis of 64 comparisons showed a small effect size (d=.15) with high heterogeneity.
  • Exclusion of large, self-report studies refined the analysis to 57 comparisons (n=3,329), revealing a medium effect size (d=.58) with acceptable heterogeneity.

Main Results:

  • A medium effect size (d=.58) indicates significantly higher DRD in individuals with addictive behaviors.
  • Effect sizes were larger in clinical samples (d=.61) compared to nonclinical samples (d=.45).
  • Evidence of small study bias suggests potential influence from unpublished findings.

Conclusions:

  • The findings provide robust evidence for elevated DRD in individuals with addictive behaviors, especially those meeting diagnostic criteria for addiction disorders.
  • Implications for refining DRD assessment tools and guiding future research priorities are discussed.