TY  - JOUR
A1  - Timme, Sinika
A1  - Wolff, Wanja
A1  - Englert, Chris
A1  - Brand, Ralf
T1  - Tracking Self-Control – Task Performance and Pupil Size in a Go/No-Go Inhibition Task
JF  - Frontiers in Psychology
N2  - There is an ongoing debate about how to test and operationalize self-control. This limited understanding is in large part due to a variety of different tests and measures used to assess self-control, as well as the lack of empirical studies examining the temporal dynamics during the exertion of self-control. In order to track changes that occur over the course of exposure to a self-control task, we investigate and compare behavioral, subjective, and physiological indicators during the exertion of self-control. Participants completed both a task requiring inhibitory control (Go/No-Go task) and a control task (two-choice task). Behavioral performance and pupil size were measured during the tasks. Subjective vitality was measured before and after the tasks. While pupil size and subjective vitality showed similar trajectories in the two tasks, behavioral performance decreased in the inhibitory control-demanding task, but not in the control task. However, behavioral, subjective, and physiological measures were not significantly correlated. These results suggest that there is a disconnect between different measures of self-control with high intra- and interindividual variability. Theoretical and methodological implications for self-control theory and future empirical work are discussed.
KW  - self-control
KW  - response inhibition
KW  - psychophysiological
KW  - behavioral and self-report measures
KW  - pupil diameter
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915016
SN  - 1664-1078
VL  - 13
PB  - Frontiers
CY  - Lausanne, Schweiz
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Englert, Chris
A1  - Wolff, Wanja
T1  - Neuroenhancement and the strength model of self-control
JF  - Frontiers in psychology
N2  - Neuroenhancement (NE), the use of substances as a means to enhance performance, has garnered considerable scientific attention of late. While ethical and epidemiological publications on the topic accumulate, there is a lack of theory-driven psychological research that aims at understanding psychological drivers of NE. In this perspective article we argue that self-control strength offers a promising theory-based approach to further understand and investigate NE behavior. Using the strength model of self-control, we derive two theory-driven perspectives on NE-self-control research. First, we propose that individual differences in state/trait self-control strength differentially affect NE behavior based on one's individual experience of NE use. Building upon this, we outline promising research questions that (will) further elucidate our understanding of NE based on the strength model's propositions. Second, we discuss evidence indicating that popular NE substances (like Methylphenidate) may counteract imminent losses of self-control strength. We outline how further research on NE's effects on the ego-depletion effect may further broaden our understanding of the strength model of self-control.
KW  - ego depletion
KW  - neuroenhancement
KW  - self-control
KW  - self-regulation
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01425
SN  - 1664-1078
VL  - 6
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  -