Casey

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• Does delay gratification in children
• predict impulse control abilities & sensitivity
• to alluring or social cues
  at behavioral + neural lvl
• when in 40s?

Question 2

Research Method

Answer 2

Quasi/Natural exp (Longitudinal)
LAB Procedure
+ : controls
- : unnatural

Question 3

Sample (bg)

Answer 3

• 4yrs: 562 ppts (marshmallows)
• 20y: 155 ppts (self-control scales)
• 30y: 135 (self-control)

Question 4

Sample (Main)

Answer 4

40y: 117 divided into high/low delayers based on
> gratification performance
> self-control measures

• EXP1: 59 (32 h.d)
• EXP2: 27 (15 h.d)

Question 5

Variables

Answer 5

• IV: high or low delayer (naturally occurring ~ ✕ manipulated)
• DV2: behaviour - impulse control measured by reaction time + accuracy
• DV2: neural - measured by fMRI scan results

Question 6

Procedure 1

Answer 6

• self-control measured by go/no-go task
• ppts push button when see stimuli + not push when see diff one
• go = push (eg. male when stimulus = sex)
• no go = don’t push
• hot cues (elicits instant emotional response) identical to cool (takes emotion away from stimulus ~ neutral) except stimulus = fearful/happy face

Question 7

Procedure 2

Answer 7

• 27 ppts from E1 agreed to fMRI while doing go/no go tasks

Question 8

Results 1

Answer 8

• both groups highly accurate in correct responses to ‘go’ trials in both cool & hot conditions (99.8% & 99.5%)
• low delayers made more errors in responses to no go trials in hot conditions

Question 9

Results 2

Answer 9

Low Delayers:
- reduced activity in inferior frontal gyrus (associated w deciding when to resist or not)
- high activity esp on hot no go trials in ventral striatum (responds to positive emotions + rewards)

opposite for high delayers

Question 10

Conclusion 1

Answer 10

• overall no/no go tasks produced differences between delay groups only in hot cues
• individuals who had more difficulty delaying gratification (putting off smth pleasurable to gain reward later) at 4y aka l.d showed more difficulty as adults in suppressing responses to happy faces than h.d

Question 11

Conclusion 2

Answer 11

• ability to resist temptation is supported by neural networks in brain:
  > l.d hv lowered activity in in inferior frontal gyrus + increased in ventral striatum

Question 12

Sampling bias/Ethnocentirsm

Answer 12

• 562ppts –> 27
  > ~ biased ; only certain type of ppl to persist w experiment
• same area of USA, all from Stanford Uni Nursery
  > probs hv same bg & parents work at uni ~ ✕ represent all society

Question 13

Ethics

Answer 13

• ✓ informed consent ; volunteered
• ✕ fMRI stressful

Question 14

Type of data

Answer 14

Quantitative
- objective, comparison, ez to analyse

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

• ecological: low, pics of faces ✕ realistic & ✕ mimic irl
• internal: high ; controls eg. how long faces shown

Question 16

Reliability

Answer 16

• standardised: repeated, same instructions/slides even tho did in own home
• fMRI: reliable, accurate, scientific equiptment, objective results

Question 17

Practical Applications

Answer 17

• gives evidence to localisation of brain
• shows specific areas of brain has specific/differing functions