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Individual differences in dopamine level modulate the ego depletion effect.

Junhua Dang1, Shanshan Xiao2, Ying Liu3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Lund University, Sweden.

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
|December 2, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Individual differences in dopamine levels, measured by eye blink rate (EBR), may protect against ego depletion. Medium dopamine levels appear to buffer the negative effects of initial self-control exertion on subsequent performance.

Keywords:
Cognitive controlDopamineEgo depletionEye blink rateSwitch costs

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Ego depletion describes the impairment of self-regulatory performance after initial self-control exertion.
  • Individual differences in neurotransmitter levels, such as dopamine, may influence self-control capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the moderating role of dopamine levels, indexed by eye blink rate (EBR), on the ego depletion effect.
  • To explore the relationship between dopamine function and subsequent self-regulatory performance.

Main Methods:

  • Participants underwent an initial self-control task or a control condition.
  • Eye blink rate (EBR) was measured as an index of central dopaminergic activity.
  • Subsequent self-regulatory performance was assessed.

Main Results:

  • An inverted-U-shaped relationship was observed between EBR and self-regulatory performance following initial self-control exertion.
  • This inverted-U relationship was absent in the control condition.
  • Individuals with medium dopamine levels (medium EBR) showed resilience to ego depletion.

Conclusions:

  • Dopamine levels, indicated by EBR, moderate the ego depletion effect.
  • Medium dopamine function may confer protection against ego depletion, potentially by facilitating cognitive flexibility.
  • Findings support a cognitive explanation of ego depletion, likening it to switch costs.