Cortisol levels and time-discounting of monetary gain in humans.
This study was conducted to examine the relationship between cortisol levels and preference to a small immediate over a larger delayed monetary reward. The degree of preference to a small immediate reward (a time-discounting rate) was investigated with an economic decision-making task in which each subject made an inter-temporal choice between (a) 10,000 yen available immediately and (b) an equal or larger amount of money after a delay of one year. The time-discounting rate was defined as [the required minimal amount of the delayed monetary gain for (b) to be preferred]-10,000/10, 000. Low cortisol levels were shown to associate with a large time-discounting rate, indicating that subjects with low cortisol levels may be impulsive in inter-temporal choice.
Takahashi
Taiki
T
Department of Behavioral Science, Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University, N.10, W.7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan. ttakashashi@lynx.let.hokudai.ac.jp
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012201:Reward; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D006854:Hydrocortisone