The regional homogeneity patterns of the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex predict individual differences in decision...

Intertemporal choice refers to the process of making decisions by weighing short- and long-term benefits and costs. On average people prefer immediate rewards over delayed rewards with larger amounts, which is a form of decision impulsivity. Based on previous research showing the importance of the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) in decision impulsivity, the present study examined whether regional homogeneity (ReHo) patterns in DMPFC were associated with individual differences in intertemporal choices. Two cohorts of college students (N = 239 and N = 227, respectively) were recruited and resting-state data were collected. Results from both univariate and multivariate pattern analyses of the two cohorts consistently showed that ReHo patterns in the DMPFC were associated with the delay discounting rate (i.e., log k). These results further support the important role of DMPFC in intertemporal choice and have potential practical implications for decision making in our daily life and at the level of national policies as well as for the treatment of clinical populations with decision impulsivity (e.g., gamblers, individuals with substance use disorders).