Modulating task-outcome value to mitigate real-world procrastination via noninvasive brain stimulation

eLife, vol. 14

Abstract

Procrastination is a prevalent behavioral problem associated with individual health and societal productivity. A leading model posits that procrastination reflects an imbalance between task aversiveness and the pursuit of positive task outcomes, yet this theoretical framework has neither been validated in real-world settings nor effectively applied to guide interventions. To address this gap, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Adults with chronic procrastination received seven sessions of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Using the intensive experience sampling method, we assessed the effect of anodal HD-tDCS on real-world procrastination behavior at offline after-effect (2-day interval) and long-term after-effect (6-month follow-up). This neuromodulation produced a lasting reduction in real-world procrastination, with effects sustained at a 6-month follow-up. The mediation analysis indicated that increased outcome value, but not reduced task aversiveness, statistically accounted for variation in behavioral improvement. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that enhancing DLPFC function may reduce procrastination by selectively amplifying the valuation of future rewards, not by reducing negative feelings about the task, which also suggests a targeted, theory-informed avenue for future behavioral interventions.

Authors 13

1. Zhiyi Chen

   Southwest University · Army Medical University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

2. Zhilin Ren

   Army Medical University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University

3. Wei Li

   Army Medical University

   Affiliation as printed

   Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University

4. Zhenzhen Huo

   Southwest University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

5. Zhuanzheng Wang

   Southwest University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

6. Ye Liu

   Southwest University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

7. Bowen Hu

   Southwest University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

8. Wanting Chen

   Southwest University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education

9. Ting Xu

   Southwest University · University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

   Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

   The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute

10. Leonov Artemiy

    Clark University

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Psychology, Clark University

11. Chenyan Zhang Aachen Institute for Psychological Research

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden University

12. Bernhard Hommel Aachen Institute for Psychological Research

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden University

13. Tingyong Feng

    Southwest University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University

    Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education