Willpower

Facebook is an excellent procrastination tool, but occasionally yields an entertaining and enlightening surprise. In this case, Matt Fong posted a fascinating New York Times Op-Ed on willpower.

The article, coauthored by the EIC of Nature Neuroscience and a Princeton professor, frames willpower as a currency that can be spent and earned. In particular, any time you exercise self control, or otherwise change your behavior to reflect long term over short term goals, you are spending willpower. What's devious here is that your willpower depletes. If you eat radishes instead of cookies before attempting an impossible puzzle, you give up sooner. This isn't a metaphor, it's published experimental research.

The eggheads are less clear on the actual physical mechanics of willpower "storage", although blood sugar has been suggested. Besides maintaining elevated blood sugar (I hope this doesn't give you diabetes), there are no suggestions for how will power accrues in the short term. My layman's guess is that it regenerates slowly, perhaps overnight. However, in a very Influence-esqe way, you can put knowledge of willpower mechanics to practical use. The authors suggest not attempting to clean your room before studying for finals.

Finally, in line with common sense, willpower "capacity" can grow over time, like a muscle. So the more you exert your better judgement, the easier it should become. Even small things count; evidentially, switching the hand you brush your teeth with has a measurable effect on willpower after two weeks.

As a computer scientist, I always enjoy seeing the mysteries of the brain reduced to algorithmic problems. It also gives me a good excuse for posting so late. I spent the entire weekend preparing a paper for submission to a conference, and I don't want to overwork my willpower by attempting for a reasonable bedtime. GG!