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Related Experiment Video

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Reinforcer Pathology: Implications for Substance Abuse Intervention.

Warren K Bickel1,2, Liqa N Athamneh3,4, Sarah E Snider3

  • 1Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, USA. wkbickel@vtc.vt.edu.

Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
|May 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Individuals who heavily discount future rewards show a higher risk for substance abuse. Interventions targeting this "reinforcer pathology" may help treat addiction by adjusting reward valuation.

Keywords:
AddictionBehavioral economic demandDelay discountingNarrative theoryReinforcer pathologyTemporal windowValuation of rewards

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Neuroscience
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Discounting rate, the devaluation of future rewards, is linked to substance abuse and negative health behaviors.
  • Excessive preference for immediate rewards indicates an overvaluation of the present and undervaluation of future consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review Reinforcer Pathology Theory, which explains the link between immediate reward preference and substance use.
  • To explore the neurobiological and behavioral basis of this theory.
  • To discuss implications for treating substance use disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Reinforcer Pathology Theory.
  • Examination of interventions aimed at manipulating aspects of reinforcer pathology.
  • Discussion of neurobiological and behavioral underpinnings.

Main Results:

  • Reinforcer Pathology Theory integrates excessive preference for immediate rewards with overvaluation of specific reinforcing commodities.
  • Interventions such as narrative theory, framing manipulations, and neuromodulation show promise.
  • These methods may modulate the temporal discounting and reward valuation processes.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding reinforcer pathology is crucial for addiction treatment.
  • Modulating temporal windows and reward valuation through various interventions offers potential therapeutic avenues.
  • Further research into neuromodulation techniques like TMS and working memory training is warranted.