Using a temporal discounting paradigm to measure decision-making and impulsivity following traumatic brain injury: A pilot study

Abstract

Primary objective: This study reports on a pilot study using a temporal discounting paradigm and a standardized impulsivity questionnaire to examine decision-making in a group of brain injured patients and age matched controls.

Methods and procedures: Participants were asked to choose between a larger reward available at a specified time in the future and smaller reward available immediately.

Outcome and results: Each of the two groups demonstrated temporal discounting; that is, the subjective value of the reward decreased with increasing delay. However, the TBI group discounted more than the controls, suggesting that their decision-making was more impulsive.

Conclusion: The results suggest that a temporal discounting paradigm might be a useful method of assessing decision-making after head trauma, especially in cases where capacity to make decisions about financial awards is an issue or in respect of money management generally.

• Temporal discounting
• traumatic brain injury
• decision-making
• impulsivity