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Goal-Directed and Habitual Control in Smokers
Maartje Luijten1,2, Claire M Gillan3,4, Sanne de Wit5,6
1Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Summary
Smokers do not differ from controls in goal-directed versus habitual behavior. However, higher nicotine dependence in smokers is linked to more habitual responding, possibly due to impaired learning.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Addiction research
Background:
- Harmful behaviors like smoking may stem from an imbalance between goal-directed and habitual control.
- Animal models suggest habitual control develops with prolonged substance use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in goal-directed and habitual behavior regulation between smokers and controls.
- To explore the association between nicotine dependence levels and habitual responding in smokers.
Main Methods:
- Two multistage instrumental learning tasks were employed, including phases for learning, outcome devaluation, and testing.
- Tasks modeled positive (appetitive) and negative (aversive) reinforcement to assess goal-directed versus habitual control.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found between smokers and controls in the balance of habitual versus goal-directed control.
- Individual differences in nicotine dependence among smokers positively correlated with habitual responding after appetitive learning.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the significance of individual differences in nicotine dependence within the smoking population.
- Impaired stimulus-outcome learning may underlie the shift towards habitual responding in dependent smokers.
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