Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
From the Dept. of Obscure research abstracts, comes this from the National Library of Medicine/National Institute of Health site PubMed.gov:
We designed four studies to test the hypothesis that inhibitory signals are not domain-specific but can spill over to unrelated domains, resulting in increased impulse control in the behavioral domain. In Study 1, participants' urination urgency correlated with performance on color-naming but not word-meaning trials of a Stroop task. In Studies 2 and 3, we found that higher levels of bladder pressure resulted in an increased ability to resist impulsive choices in monetary decision making. We found that inhibitory spillover effects are moderated by sensitivity of the Behavioral Inhibition System (Study 3) and can be induced by exogenous cues (Study 4). Implications for inhibition and impulse-control theories are discussed.
So, just as they say that it's best to go grocery shopping on a full stomach, it's probably best to do some other important things -- make financial decisions, go into the Apple Store -- when you're at the peak of your ability to resist impulse purchasing.
Who says the government wastes money on idiotic research projects?
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Aug '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Wait a doggone minute.
I find it hard to believe that I'll make better financial decisions when I'm doing the "I gotta pee!" dance.
On the other hand, I could accept that I'd be more likely to yell out, "don't ask me that right now! I really gotta pee!!!!"
For me, postponing a financial decision is the closest I'll ever come to making a good financial decision.
Aug '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Wow. Count me surprised.
I would've thought it'd be easier to get me to agree to something stupid when I've got a full bladder -- that there'd come a point where I'd agree to pretty much anything for the sake of being able to get to a restroom more quickly.
Dec '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
I see some merit in this hypothesis. I have never ordered another beer on the way to the men's room.
Nov '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Does the effect also hold with a full...never mind.
Sep '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Another triumph for the "social sciences". And to think that some people don't consider them to be scientists at all.
Mar '11
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
So, does this mean that we should remove the facilities from the Capitol Building?
I mean, if it is going to help them think better...
Oct '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Here is an interesting factoid, which may help when negotiating with aliens in free-fall.
As the bladder fills in Earth gravity, the weight of the fluid stretches it and sends a signal with increasing intensity that we need to visit the facilities. In microgravity, however, fluids cling to the walls of their containers, and there is no signal the bladder is full until it is totally full, at which time you you need to visit the space toilet right now.
So, when hammering out borders between the Terran Empire and the Vorgon Commonwealth, we give our guys and gals plenty of salt pills and make lots of long, windy speeches until our scaly interlocutors start to hop from leg to tail to leg.
Agreement signed! Where are the facilities‽
Peace in our time!
Edited on Jun 8, 2011 at 4:48pmOct '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Try looking at the Annals of Improbable Research, unless you have been there.
If anyone thinks shrimp on treadmills are odd, see how weirdly monies are spent on these other efforts.
Edited on Jun 8, 2011 at 6:53pmMar '11
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
When you get to the Anals of Improbable Research, I’m outa here!
Aug '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
You just hit on one of my pet peeves. You used the word "factoid" incorrectly.
What you posted was not a "factoid". It was actually a "fact".
The suffix "-oid" signifies that the subject merely resembles what the word it referring to, but is not actually that thing.
For example, "humanoid" refers to creatures which resemble humans, but are not humans. A "planetoid" is a celestial body which resembles a planet, but is not a planet.
As such, a "factoid" is something that resembles a fact, but is not a fact. In other words, a lie, or a hoax, or a fiction.
The word is used incorrectly when used to describe a "inconsequential fact" or a "trivial fact".
(From here on out, feel free to call me "Doctor Pedantic" ;-)
Edited on Jun 9, 2011 at 8:26amOct '10
Re: Make Better Decisions with a Full Bladder
Misthiocracy
You just hit on one of my pet peeves. You used the word "factoid" incorrectly.
What you posted was not a "factoid". It was actually a "fact".
Chastened! I shall try not to err again.