Running on Empty: Neural Signals for Self-Control Failure

• Published in: Psychological science Vol. 18; no. 11; pp. 933 - 937
• Main Authors: Inzlicht, Michael, Gutsell, Jennifer N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Blackwell Publishing 01.11.2007; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Addiction; Adult; Affect; Behavioral neuroscience; Behavioural psychology; Brain research; Cognition; Conflict (Psychology); Control groups; Developmental psychology; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; Emotional suppression; Emotions; Fatigue - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Male; Mind; Motion pictures; Movies; Neural Pathways - physiology; Research Reports; Resource depletion; Self; Self control; Self Efficacy; Self regulation; Social psychology; Stroop task; Typographic fonts; Waveforms
• ISSN: 0956-7976; 1467-9280
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.02004.x

Past research shows that self-control is limited and becomes depleted after initial exertions. This study examined the neural processes underlying self-control failure by testing whether controlled, effortful behavior impairs subsequent attempts at control by depleting the neural system associated with conflict monitoring. Subjects either watched an emotional movie normally or tried to suppress their emotions while watching the movie; they then completed an ostensibly unrelated Stroop task while electroencephalographic activity was recorded. The error-related negativity (ERN)--a waveform associated with activity in the anterior cingulate--was measured to determine whether prior regulatory exertion constrained the conflict-monitoring system. Compared with subjects in the control condition, those who suppressed their emotions performed worse on the Stroop task, and this deficit was mediated by weaker ERN signals. These results offer a neural account for the self-regulatory-strength model and demonstrate the utility of the social neuroscience approach.