Procrastination as a neurocognitive syndrome: evidence from VBM, RSFC, and Temporal activation patterns in executive and Default-Mode networks.

Procrastination—the habitual postponement of intended tasks despite anticipating negative consequences—is increasingly understood as a neurocognitive syndrome rooted in affective, motivational, and executive dysregulation. This systematic literature review synthesizes findings from 23 neuroimaging studies involving a total of 6,087 participants, predominantly university students aged 16–26 years, to examine the structural, functional, and psychological underpinnings of academic procrastination. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), and task-based fMRI, these studies consistently implicate reduced gray matter volume in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, insula, and precuneus, alongside disrupted connectivity within the Cognitive Control Network and Default Mode Network. Psychological mediators such as low self-control, high reward sensitivity, rumination, and boredom proneness were found to bridge neural alterations and procrastinatory behavior. Temporal activation patterns further indicate that procrastination is not a static trait but a dynamic process influenced by real-time fluctuations in attention, motivation, and emotional engagement. Key limitations include the cross-sectional design of all included studies, reliance on self-report measures, and limited demographic diversity, primarily East Asian student samples. These findings support reconceptualizing procrastination as a multidimensional neurocognitive phenomenon and highlight the potential for targeted interventions—such as cognitive training, mindfulness, and non-invasive brain stimulation—that address its core neural mechanisms to improve academic performance, mental health, and productivity.