Network analyses identify critical factors for facilitating future-oriented decision-making

Delay discounting characterized the devaluation of a reward's subjective value as a function of temporal delay in receiving it and has been shown to be associated with a range of neural and psychological factors. However, our understanding of how multi-domain factors contribute to individual differences in delay discounting remains unclear. To address this question, we performed network analyses to disentangle the complex relationships between multi-domain factors and delay discounting utilizing data from the Young Adult cohort of the Human Connectome Project (HCP). Exploratory factor analysis was first conducted to parse 114 behavioral phenotype measures into 19 factors and 88 regional gray matter volume (GMV) variables into 14 factors. Subsequently, we used Gaussian Graphical Model and directed acyclic graph to estimate both the undirected and directed networks. Across network analyses, the crystallized intelligence, GMV of the cerebellum, and cigarette use emerged as critical nodes that directed contribute to individual differences in delay discounting. Notably, the externalizing behaviors appear to be a downstream consequence of delay discounting. Our findings identify crystallized intelligence, cerebellum, and cigarette use as potentially crucial mechanisms underlying dividual differences in delay discounting, which suggest that interventions specifically targeting these factors may effectively facilitate future-oriented decision-making.