Module 2

Question 1

Dual-process theory of instrumental action

Answer 1

Goal-directed (top-down, cognitive control) vs habituation-based (bottom-up, automatic)

Question 2

Is drug-seeking goal-directed or habitual?

Answer 2

Can be both, there is empirical evidence for the view that it is goal-directed, but it can also be habitual

Question 3

What does goal conflict entail in goal-directed drug seeking?

Answer 3

The short-term goal of a rush/suppression of withdrawal can overshadow the long-term goal of health

Question 4

What is the substantia nigra part of?

Answer 4

Basal ganglia

Question 5

What 2 regions does the SN consist of?

Answer 5

1. SN pars compacta: large number of DA neurons (also in VTA)
2. SN pars reticulata: more GABA neurons

Question 6

Parkinson’s disease- SN

Answer 6

death of dopamine neurons in SN, movement-related deficits

Question 7

R-O relationship

Answer 7

instrumental response- motivationally relevant outcome (if i do A, i get B), leads to instrumental behavior

Question 8

By what two criteria is goal-directed action mediated?

Answer 8

(cognitive) belief: representation of the R-O relationship
(motivational) desire: representation of incentive value

Question 9

Habit-based action

Answer 9

instrumental behavior that is triggered by contextual stimuli

Question 10

What does the Law of Effect (Thorndike) say about habit-based action?

Answer 10

habits are mediated by S-R links and are therefore autonomous of the desirability

Question 11

What experimental paradigm is used to determine whether behavior is goal-directed or habitual?

Answer 11

outcome-devaluation paradigm

Question 12

What phases does outcome devaluation consist of in animal research?

Answer 12

Instrumental learning-outcome devaluation- critical test

Question 13

What were the results of outcome devaluation in animal studies?

Answer 13

rats are capable of goal-directed action, but overtraining led to a diminished devaluation effect (they kept pressing)

Question 14

What contributes to vulnerability to maladaptive habits?

Answer 14

aberrantly strong habit formation, weak goal-directed control

Question 15

What kind of behavior is dominant in addiction?

Answer 15

S-R habitual control

Question 16

Results of Tricomi (outcome devaluation) study

Answer 16

1-day group showed goal-directed behavior (less for devalued food), 3-day group showed habitual behavior (equal response for both foods)

Question 17

fMRI results Tricomi

Answer 17

posterior putamen/globus pallidus (increased activity) plays central role in habitual behavior
vmPFC (increased activation with increased anticipation, pattern stable): representing the value, supporting goal-directed behavior
S-R association eventually became stronger than vmPFC

Question 18

Main executive functions

Answer 18

error monitoring, working memory, cognitive flexibility/set shifting, decision making, inhibitory (impulse) control

Question 19

Neuroimaging studies- executive control deficits related to dysfunction in?

Answer 19

PFC, anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex

Question 20

fMRI- addiction conclusions

Answer 20

• gray matter reductions: PFC, cingulate, insula (either consequence or risk factor)
• white matter: alterations in those that use substances

Question 21

Research paradigms for measuring executive control

Answer 21

cognitive flexibility, decision making, inhibitory control

Question 22

Cognitive flexibility measured with? + what is seen in substance abuse?

Answer 22

• WCST: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
• perseverative error (failure to change the rule)>lack of cognitive flexibility

Question 23

Decision making tested with? [2] + what is seen in substance abuse?

Answer 23

*Delay discounting: subjective value goes down quicker
* IGT: Iowa gambling task (advantageous + disadvantageous decks): participants with mOFC (orbitofrontal cortex) /vmPFC dysfunction + addiction stay on the bad decks

Question 24

Contingency management

Answer 24

positive behavioral change is reinforced, long-term goals over immediate gratification

Question 25

How is inhibitory control measured? [3] + what can be seen in people with addiction?

Answer 25

*Go/no-go task: fail to suppress responses to no-go signals *SST: stop-signal task: failure to inhibit the response, especially in harder trials [dACC: dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, less active] * Stroop task: more mistakes + slower responding in incongruent trials

Question 26

Habit theory of substance abuse * researchers * definition

Answer 26

* everitt & robbins * aberrantly strong habits + impaired cognitive control mediate the transition (incorporates dual-process theory)

Question 27

How do goal-directed and habitual behavior tie into habit theory?

Answer 27

* habituation: drugs affect the DA system> habit formation + cravings * goal-directed: PFC affected>weaked goal-directed + cognitive control

Question 28

What is the similarity between incentive-sensitization and habit theory?

Answer 28

they regard behavior as context-dependent

Question 29

Incentive-sensitization theory

Answer 29

* Berridge & Robinson * pathological motivation for drugs + impaired cognitive control lead to addiction

Question 30

Neuroscientific evidence for goal-directed and habitual control (dual-process theory)

Answer 30

parallel pathways * goal-directed: vmPFC, overlaps with OFC and caudate * habit: premotor cortex (PMC) and posterior putamen (in striatum)

Question 31

Do substances have an acute effect on goal-directed action?

Answer 31

Yes, they shift the balance from goal-directed towards habitual control

Question 32

What provides indirect support for the role of habits in addiction?

Answer 32

Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) + cue reactivity studies (activation striatal habit region)

Question 33

Does drug-seeking become habitual with repetition?

Answer 33

Yes, over time a transition from goal-directed to habit insensitive to devaluation

Question 34

Is habit formation accelerated for drug rewards relative to natural rewards?

Answer 34

yes (more lever pressing for drugs than for food)

Question 35

Does substance abuse lead to a general tendency to fall back on rigid habits?

Answer 35

those with a history of substance abuse tend to rely more on habit-based behavior, so yes

Question 36

Are drug habits compulsive?

Answer 36

habits play a role in the transition from goal-directed towards compulsive drug-seeking (extensive training kept pressing lever)

Question 37

Treatment implications for habit theory

Answer 37

capitalize intact bottom-up processes, strengthen weakened top-down processes

Question 38

What are the [3] major dopamine pathways and to what concept do they add

Answer 38

1. Mesolimbic (VTA-NA): craving (incentive sensitization) 2. Nigtostriatal (SN- posterior putamen): habit formation 3. Mesocortical (VTA-PFC): cognition

Question 39

Pro-arguments for the brain disease model of addiction [3]

Answer 39

1. addiction is a fronto-striatal circuitry disorder (permanent brain changes) [2. neuroimaging as the ultimate diagnostic tool is not realistic: help understand underlying mechanisms] [3. experimental animal models, causal] 4. the brain disease model does not ignore other factors 5. genetic risk is probabilistic, not deterministic 6. total abstinence is relatively rare 7. can help alleviate social stigma

Question 40

Contra-arguments brain disease model [3]

Answer 40

1. some brain functions do show recovery after a period of abstinence 2. brain dysfunction not sufficient for diagnosis 3. neuroimaging studies just offer correlational evidence 4. many other risk factors 5. genetic predisposition does not result in compulsion 6. cases of spontaneous remission 7. other alternatives to the moral model