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Some people are doers and others tend to procrastinate. New research shows that people may be more likely to procrastinate based on a specific part of the brain.
Scientists from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany analyzed 264 people to recognize differences between their brains and their personalities. Published in Psychological Science on Friday, the study identified two areas of the brain that could influence someone's ability to tackle tasks right away or wait to tackle them later.
To determine if the person is a doer or a procrastinator, the participants completed a survey measuring their ability to execute control over their actions. The scientists also examined their brains through an MRI and determined the sizes of their brain regions and the connections between those regions.
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The amygdala, which is an almond-shaped mass of gray matter that sits in the brain, was larger in people with poor action control. According to McGill University, the amygdala is an essential component in a person's ability to feel certain emotions, as well as detect them in other people. Included in these emotions is fear, a major factor in why as many in one in five people are chronic procrastinators.
Additionally, the connection between the amygdala and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, called the dorsal ACC, was less pronounced than those who were more likely to control their actions. This area of the brain helps with motor control and cognition.
"These two areas of the brain had already been linked with action control in former studies," Erhan Genç, an author on the study, said in a statement. So, while they aren't the first to know that these areas are related to action, this study makes the connection to people who are procrastinators.
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Since the amygdala is used for people to assess potential outcomes, as well as warn a person of negative consequences, it's understandable that a larger one could cause someone to be more hesitant to start a task. The scientists write that if the connection between the amygdala and dorsal ACC is impaired, a person won't be able to successfully execute their actions.
"Individuals with a higher amygdala volume may be more anxious about the negative consequences of an action—they tend to hesitate and put off things," Erhan Genç said. "Due to a low functional connection between amygdala and dorsal ACC, this effect may be augmented, as interfering negative emotions and alternative actions might not be sufficiently regulated."
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