Sample (exp. 1 and 2)

• Participants were selected from a pool of people initially tested on delayed gratification when they were aged 4-6 years old.

  They were retested in their 20s, and again in their 30s and then again for this study when they were in their 40s.
• Experiment 1:

  Fifty nine participants were selected whose self control abilities were consistent in all three previous assessments.

  32 high delayers = 20 of the women , 12 MEN , mean age 44.6 years.

  27 Low delayers = 16 of the women , 11 MEN , mean age 44.3 years
• Experiment 2:

  27 of the participants in experiment 1 agreed to take part in the study of brain activity.

  One participant was excluded because of poor performance, leaving 26 participants.