title: Individual differences in dopamine level modulate the ego depletion effect.
abstract: Initial exertion of self-control impairs subsequent self-regulatory performance, which is referred to as the ego depletion effect. The current study examined how individual differences in dopamine level, as indexed by eye blink rate (EBR), would moderate ego depletion. An inverted-U-shaped relationship between EBR and subsequent self-regulatory performance was found when participants initially engaged in self-control but such relationship was absent in the control condition where there was no initial exertion, suggesting individuals with a medium dopamine level may be protected from the typical ego depletion effect. These findings are consistent with a cognitive explanation which considers ego depletion as a phenomenon similar to "switch costs" that would be neutralized by factors promoting flexible switching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peking University, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peking University, China.
authors.forename: Yumeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peking University, China. Electronic address: lihuamao@pku.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004532:Ego; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Cognitive control; Dopamine; Ego depletion; Eye blink rate; Switch costs