Jeffrey Stevens, PhD

Associate Professor
Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

 

 

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Mechanisms of impulsivity in humans and other animals

Abstract: From the temptation of decadent desserts to the desire to immediately respond to that annoying social media post, controlling impulses can be difficult for the young and old, the human and nonhuman. In humans, we think of impulsivity as a behavioral trait that pervades different aspects of our lives. But do other species exhibit impulsivity as a trait? Here, we take a comparative approach across humans, nonhuman primates, birds, fish, and dogs to investigate impulsivity across contexts to assess whether it exists as a trait in other species. We then explore potential cognitive mechanisms underlying impulsive decision making and how we might leverage those mechanisms to build decision environments that nudge people into making more patient choices.

ZOOM:  https://arizona.zoom.us/j/86560111226
Password: Cogs595

Lab sites: Adaptive Decision Making Lab and Canine Cognition and Human Interaction Lab