Chinese researchers have identified specific brain structures in adolescents that are linked to the development of procrastination in adulthood. The study also revealed that the tendency to delay tasks may be inherited, meaning some people are predisposed from birth to regularly put off completing tasks for no apparent reason and regardless of the consequences.

Procrastination: Normal Behavior or Pathology?

Occasionally postponing tasks is common for many people—this is perfectly normal, especially if a task seems unpleasant or difficult. However, chronic and debilitating procrastination is often associated with neuropsychological disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety disorders.

The Impact of Procrastination on Health

Recent studies have shown that the habit of delaying tasks can lead to sleep problems. For example, fear of death can cause people to regularly postpone going to bed. According to scientists, optimism helps prevent procrastination, and special glasses are even being developed to help combat its effects.

The Chinese Study

A team of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other research institutes found that the structure of an adolescent's brain can predict their tendency to procrastinate as adults. The results of their work were published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry.

The study analyzed MRI data from 71 pairs of adolescent twins. Eight years later, when the participants had reached adulthood, they were surveyed to assess their levels of procrastination.

Key Findings

Those who were more prone to procrastination as adults showed different functioning in the nucleus accumbens during adolescence—a brain region responsible for pleasure, motivation, and reward. This area exhibited disruptions in dopamine metabolism, a neurotransmitter that drives action toward achieving goals. Differences were also found in the functioning of receptors that release dopamine and serotonin—the so-called "happiness hormone."

Because the study involved twins, the researchers were able to assess the role of genetics. They found that the tendency to procrastinate is moderately heritable and is passed on to the next generation in about 47% of cases.

Outlook

The authors of the study believe that their findings could form the basis for developing methods to prevent and provide early intervention for procrastination.