Stress & Self-Control Costs

CPT is a physiological stress task in which participants continuously submerge their hand and forearm in ice-water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes.

The TSST is a psychosocial stressor that requires participants perform a short speech and solve math problems in front of 2 evaluative judges.

The modified non-stress CPT involves participants continuously submerging their hand and forearm in warm water for 3 minutes.

For the modified non-stress TSST, participants are asked to prepare for a speech that they will practice alone to themselves and complete math problems alone on a piece of scrap paper.

Participants will complete the self-control task in the fMRI scanner.