Why do some people seem to have less trouble with self-control than others? A new study attributes this to differences in neural processes in the brain. People with a “quieter mind,” in which certain brain states alternate less quickly than others, are less likely to struggle with distracting thoughts and are better able to control themselves. The results could help to better understand disorders such as ADHD, which are associated with impaired self-control.
Self-control describes the ability to suppress inappropriate impulses. Several studies suggest that people with high levels of self-control are, on average, more successful, happier, and healthier. You’ll find it easier to focus on long-term goals and resist short-term temptations—such as staying focused on a task and forgoing that tempting snack in between. The influence of inhibiting networks in the brain on this ability has already been investigated. However, the connections between brain function and self-control are not yet fully understood.
Studied brain waves
A team led by Tobias Kleinert from the University of Freiburg has now investigated the influence of so-called microstates, which become visible in brain wave measurements, on the ability to control oneself. “Microstates arise from the simultaneous activation of specific neuronal associations,” the researchers explain. “Based on the notion that microstates represent the individual units that make up the stream of mental processing, each microstate can be described as a specific mental processing step.”
When we let our minds roam freely, the microstates in our brain remain stable for about 40 to 120 milliseconds before giving way to a new activation pattern. It has already been shown earlier that there are clear individual differences in how quickly the microstates change. Kleinert and his colleagues have now analyzed to what extent there is a connection between these individual differences in the brain and the self-reported ability to control oneself. To do this, they measured the brain waves in 58 test persons in Germany using an electroencephalogram (EEG) and also had them fill out a questionnaire in which the people were asked to assess, for example, how easy it was for them to resist temptation.
Mental processes show self-control
The result: in people who, according to the questionnaire, had high self-control, the microstates of the brain changed less frequently than people who self-reported as having lower self-control. “We have shown that self-controlled individuals show fewer but longer-lasting mental processing steps,” the researchers said. “These results suggest that people with high self-control have more stable mental processes with fewer disruptive thoughts and impulses.”
To validate the findings, a collaborating research team from the University of Alberta in Canada carried out the same experiments with 101 Canadian volunteers – with the same result. In addition to the self-assessment questionnaire, the Canadian team also carried out a risk-taking behavior test with the subjects. Risk-taking is considered an indication of impulsiveness, the opposite of self-control. This experiment also confirmed that people with faster changing microstates tended to make more risky decisions, while people with a “calmer mind” typically preferred security.
Better understanding of ADHD?
“It is amazing that we can demonstrate a robust connection between task-independent neural processing and self-control abilities on both sides of the Atlantic,” says Kleinert. “Our results make it clear that the analysis of the mental flow in the resting brain can reveal crucial information about the nature of our mind.” From the researchers’ point of view, the findings could also help to identify clinical disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). that comes with reduced self-control to better understand.
Source: Tobias Kleinert (University of Freiburg) et al., Psychological Science, preprint; doi: 10.31234/osf.io/fzg9y