14 DAY TRIAL // A group of researchers recently managed to make an impressive finding, when they discovered a region of the brain that appears to be playing an important role in governing human temptations. The experts say that this area may be the one responsible for allowing us to resist urges of getting gratifications in smaller amounts, but very fast, and the one that makes it possible for humans to realize the importance of waiting until larger rewards are ripe for the taking. The region scientists believes governs these aspects is called the left lateral prefrontal cortex, and it can be found just above the left ear, according to LiveScience.
“The lateral prefrontal cortex really is one of the last brain structures to mature; it matures rather late during puberty and even during adolescence and into young adulthood. So this can help explain why adolescents and young adults often seem to have a hard time delaying gratification,” says Columbia University in New York expert Bernd Figner, who was also a researcher for the new investigation. He explains that this work could have profound implications for experts studying dangerous behaviors such as substance abuse and gambling.
The team says that these habits appear to be hindering the brain's ability of foreseeing long-term rewards. As a result, people no longer wait for higher amounts of gratification, and prefer to go for the easy-to-reach rewards, which are usually of a reduced importance. Additionally, the work may also explain why some people tend to be impulsive at times, or all the time. All of these behaviors may very well be correlated, the group believes. The field of psychology could be one of the main beneficiaries for the new study, the scientists say, provided that new courses of treatment could be derived from the new datasets.
Figner says that the team plans to develop new therapies using their data on self-control and temptations that would be used to make decision-making processes more efficient. They say that too many people are lacking the foresight to think about future rewards, and that this is one of the main reasons why many fail to make the correct decision at the right time. The experts add that a non-invasive technique, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be sued to stimulate the left lateral prefrontal cortex, so as to promote more self-control in individuals lacking it.