Order ID | 53563633773 |
Type | Essay |
Writer Level | Masters |
Style | APA |
Sources/References | 4 |
Perfect Number of Pages to Order | 5-10 Pages |
Is Procrastination a Function of Neural Biology?
A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany, took a rare neuroscientific approach to the study of action control and procrastination.
Using a sample of 264 young adults, they conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging brain scans to explore the neural correlates of the ability to initiate and sustain action.
The researchers found a relation between the gray matter volume of the amygdala and difficulties in initiating action; individuals who tend to hesitate or procrastinate show higher amygdala volume.
Because the amygdala is a neuroanatomical hub for fear-motivation behavior (“fight or flight” center of the brain), individuals with a larger amygdala volume evaluate future actions and their possible consequences more extensively. This, in turn, may lead to greater concern and hesitation.
The researchers did note, however, that biology is not destiny because our brains can change.
For example, other research has shown that mindfulness meditation can shrink the volume of the amygdala. In addition, individuals can learn skills to better regulate their emotional response to the tasks in their lives.