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Related Experiment Video

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Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
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Control feedback as the motivational force behind habitual behavior.

O Nafcha1, E T Higgins2, B Eitam1

  • 1University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

Progress in Brain Research
|December 8, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Habitual behavior is driven by the control motivation system, not just diminished outcomes. This system reinforces actions that effectively control the environment, even when their rewards decrease.

Keywords:
Action selectionAnorexiaComparatorControlCybernetic modelsGoal-directedHabitMotivationSense of agency

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral neuroscience
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Decision-making

Background:

  • Motivated behavior is typically understood as a balance of subjective benefits and costs.
  • Habitual behavior persists despite diminished outcome value, posing a motivational puzzle.
  • Existing explanations require specifying the motivational system underlying intrinsic worth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the motivational system driving habitual behavior.
  • To elucidate how activities acquire intrinsically rewarding properties.
  • To explain the persistence of habitual actions despite outcome devaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual framework integrating control motivation and outcome expectancy.
  • Analysis of how environmental control feedback influences action selection.
  • Modeling the role of expectancy precision in habit formation.

Main Results:

  • Habitual behavior is motivated by the control motivation system and its "control feedback."
  • Activities gain intrinsic worth when they effectively control the environment.
  • Low precision of instrumental outcome expectancy enhances the relative weight of control feedback.

Conclusions:

  • Habitual behavior is driven by the pursuit of environmental control, not just outcome value.
  • The control motivation system provides an intrinsic reward for effective environmental manipulation.
  • Low expectancy precision facilitates habit formation by prioritizing control over outcome feedback.