Delay Discounting Task (DDT)

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Delay Discounting Task

Basic Characteristics

• Description

Delay discounting is a decrease in the subjective value of a reinforcer(i.e. money, drugs) as a function of time to its delivery. Choosing smaller yet more immediate rewards over larger but delayed rewards is considered an indication of impulsiveness (see impulse control). Delay discounting is also associated with substance abuse and gamboling. Delay discounting works by exposing subjects to contingencies of reinforcement where magnitude of reinforcement and delay are systematically varied in choice situations. This phenomenon has been successfully tested in both human and animal subjects. Human subjects are presented with a series of hypothetical choices of amount of reinforcer to be had immediately, and a larger reinforcer available after a fixed delay. They are to identify the point of self-reported indifference in preference between reinforcers. This point of indifference between represents the subjective value of a delayed reinforcer. Variations in the number of trials, order of presentation of the reinforcers and delay values, and modality (manual or computerized) exist. A subject's delay discounting function is sampled by identifying a reinforcers subjective value at selected points in the delay continuum.

• History

• References

Robles and Vargas, 2008. Parameters of delay discounting assessment: number of trials, effort, and sequential effects PMID 18222614

Related Information

• Cognitive construct associated with this task (vote for your favorite, or nominate a new construct label by editing this page):
• Indicators (dependent variables, conditions, or contrasts; measurement variables used for analysis) associated with this task (vote or nominate by editing this page):
  • dependent variables: response time, number of trial choices for second DD task
• Closely related pages (vote or nominate related pages by editing this page):
  • Within Species

• • Across Species

• CNP Level

• Primary Species

External Resources

• Links out:
  • -ucla cognitive atlas- (coming soon!)

• Database links

Task Details

• Task Structure (please given an overview of the task procedures here [i.e., overall design, block, trial, and within-trial event structure and timing])
  • procedure
    • block: 2 blocks, one full length, one abbreviated
    • trial: 240 choice trials in the full length block, the amount of trials in the abbreviated

block varies by when subject shows indifference

• examples of magnitudes: delay-6 hrs, 1 day, 1 week, 2 mos, 6 mos, 1 yr, 5 yrs, 25 yrs reinforcer- $1-$1000
• Stimulus Characteristics
  • sensory modality (e.g., visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, olfactory): visual
  • functional modality (e.g., linguistic, spatial, numerical, categorical):
  • presentation modality (e.g., human examiner, paper, computer display, headphones, speaker): computer display
• Response Characteristics
  • response required - mouse click
    • effector modality (e.g., vocal, manual, pedal): manual
    • functional modality (e.g., words, drawing, writing, keypress, movement): mouse click
  • response options (e.g., yes/no, go/no-go, forced choice, multiple choice [specify n of options], free response)- mouse click or command selection
  • response collection (e.g., examiner notes, keyboard, keypad, mouse, voice key, button press)- mouse or keyboard
• Assessment/Control Characteristics
  • timing
    • monthly cycle dependent??
    • circadian dependent??
  • control assessment
    • 5 senses??