People often assume that procrastination is a choice and that the personality trait — which sees people delay necessary tasks — is a sign of laziness.

人們通常認為拖延癥是一種選擇，而且這種讓人推遲必要工作的人格特點是懶惰的表現。

However, new research suggests that genes may play a role.

但有新研究表明這是受基因影響的。

Previous research has associated both biological and psychological factors with procrastination.

此前的研究分析了導致拖延癥的生理和心理因素。

The results of a 2018 study showed that people with a tendency to procrastinate had a bigger amygdala — the section of the brain that processes emotions.

2018年一項研究的結果顯示有拖延癥傾向的人杏仁核更大，杏仁核是大腦中負責處理情緒的部分。

The same research team has now studied whether there is an association between the trait and genetics.

該研究團隊現在研究了這個性格特點和遺傳學之間的聯系。

After examining identical and fraternal twins, the authors of a previous study, which featured in Psychological Science, concluded that 46% of the tendency to procrastinate might be down to genes.

此前發表在《Psychological Science》雜志上的一項研究研究了同卵雙胞胎和異卵雙胞胎，其作者得出的結論是46%的拖延傾向都是由基因決定的。

However, researchers still do not know the specific genetic difference that could result in this trait.

但研究人員仍不清楚是什么特定的遺傳差異造成了拖延癥。

Dr. Erhan Gen?, from Ruhr-Universit?t Bochum in Germany, believes that he may now have the answer.

德國波鴻魯爾大學的Erhan Gen?博士認為他現在可能找到答案了。

But, there is a catch: it only relates to women.

但還有一個問題，那就是只對女性有影響。

The expression of the TH gene differs among individuals, leading to varying levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in individual brains. Previous studies have already linked increased dopamine levels with impulsive behavior.

個體之間酪氨酸羥基因(TH gene)表達存在差異，導致個體大腦中分泌的多巴胺和其他神經遞質的水平也有所不同。此前的研究已經發現了多巴胺水平升高與沖動行為之間的聯系。

The neurotransmitter dopamine has repeatedly been associated with increased cognitive flexibility in the past," notes Dr. Gen?. "This is not fundamentally bad but is often accompanied by increased distractibility.

Gen?博士稱：“過去曾多次發現神經遞質多巴胺與認知靈活性的增強有關，從根本上來說這沒什么不好，但通常會伴隨注意力更加不集中的情況”。

The chemical's ability to affect cognitive control may, therefore, affect whether a person delays a task or performs it efficiently.

因此這種化學物質影響認知控制的能力會影響到一個人是否會推遲一項工作或高效完成工作。