Biomed Radio - Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis

The phenomenon scientists call “delay discounting” can tell a lot about a person’s ability to set and attain goals. Some people are more likely to prefer smaller but immediate rewards rather than larger but delayed rewards. The tendency to prefer immediate rewards, even if they are smaller, has been linked to impulsive behavior, which is connected to problems such as substance abuse and addiction. Studying twins over a number of years, Washington University researchers have found that genetic factors underlie the preference for short-term rewards. The researchers also have identified genes linked to the brain’s serotonin and opioid systems as contributors to the preference for rewards now rather than later. IF YOU’D RATHER HAVE A SMALL REWARD NOW VERSUS SOMETHING BIGGER LATER, YOU MAY BE AT RISK FOR PROBLEMS LIKE ADDICTION OR OBESITY. PEOPLE WHO TEND TO CHOOSE SMALLER, BUT IMMEDIATE, REWARDS OVER LARGER PRIZES THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR ALSO MAY BE A BIT DIFFERENT GENETICALLY, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH FROM