A Novel Procedure to Assess Impulsivity and Self-Control in Adolescent Rats

Abstract

Choice outcomes are discounted by imposed delays. This effect, termed delay discounting, is often demonstrated by a higher choice preference for a smaller reinforcer amount delivered sooner, rather than a larger amount delivered after a longer delay. Degree of delay discounting has been correlated with behaviors exhibited by traditionally impulsive populations, including substance abusers and problem gamblers. Additionally, neural mechanisms involved in choices between delayed outcomes has attracted much attention in recent years. One limiting factor in assessing discounting is that quantitative determinations of an individual’s degree of impulsivity can be quite time consuming. Despite this, few studies have investigated new procedures that could attain a reliable discounting measure in a shorter period. The current study tested and compared results from two variations of delay discounting procedures – one that is widely reported in the literature, and a novel variation. The novel procedure was designed to assess choice behavior in less than one week. If this method produces orderly and reliable results, then it could be beneficial to use in future delay discounting research.