PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Soutschek, Alexander
AU  - Ruff, Christian C.
AU  - Strombach, Tina
AU  - Kalenscher, Tobias
AU  - Tobler, Philippe N.
TI  - Brain stimulation reveals crucial role of overcoming self-centeredness in self-control
AID  - 10.1126/sciadv.1600992
DP  - 2016 Oct 01
TA  - Science Advances
PG  - e1600992
VI  - 2
IP  - 10
4099  - http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/10/e1600992.short
4100  - http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/10/e1600992.full
SO  - Sci Adv2016 Oct 01; 2
AB  - Neurobiological models of self-control predominantly focus on the role of prefrontal brain mechanisms involved in emotion regulation and impulse control. We provide evidence for an entirely different neural mechanism that promotes self-control by overcoming bias for the present self, a mechanism previously thought to be mainly important for interpersonal decision-making. In two separate studies, we show that disruptive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the temporo-parietal junction—a brain region involved in overcoming one’s self-centered perspective—increases the discounting of delayed and prosocial rewards. This effect of TMS on temporal and social discounting is accompanied by deficits in perspective-taking and does not reflect altered spatial reorienting and number recognition. Our findings substantiate a fundamental commonality between the domains of self-control and social decision-making and highlight a novel aspect of the neurocognitive processes involved in self-control.