Do interoceptive deficits contribute to decision-making problems in academic procrastination

in Kirschbaum, C. (Ed.) 45. Jahrestagung Psychologie und Gehirn - Abstractband (2019)

Interoception plays an important role for intuitive decision-making. One possible explanation is that the perception of somatic markers when simulating the outcome of different action alternatives guides ... [more ▼]

Interoception plays an important role for intuitive decision-making. One possible explanation is that the perception of somatic markers when simulating the outcome of different action alternatives guides the selection for the potentially best option. In the present study, we aimed at investigating if chronically procrastinating individuals show interoceptive deficits, which may explain poor decision-making performance. We tested 19 chronic procrastinators (14 females) and 22 nonprocrastinating control individuals (14 females), recruited from students and staff of the University of Luxembourg. This study consisted of a laboratory experiment including questionnaires assessing procrastinating behavior and two separate behavioral paradigms. Using the Schandry Heartbeat Perception Task as an indicator for interoceptive accuracy and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) for the assessment of decision-making performance. Questionnaire data confirmed significantly higher procrastination scores in that group. While male participants showed a significantly higher interoceptive accuracy score than their female counterparts, procrastinators and non-procrastinators did not differ significantly in interoception. Furthermore, no differences in the choice of deck selections were found between procrastinators and non-procrastinators. Interoceptive accuracy was unrelated to decision-making performance. No significant group differences were found for either analysis regarding the performance development as well as sex differences in the IGT. We observed a learning effect in the IGT, with choices for profitable decks increasing over time and poor choices declining. The current study did neither support reduced decision-making problems, nor interoceptive deficits in procrastination. Future studies should incorporate interoceptive indicators of other organ systems and self-report measures to elucidate possible alterations in procrastination. [less ▲]