Costly habitual avoidance is reduced by concurrent goal-directed approach in a modified devaluation paradigm

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Avoidance habits can perpetuate maladaptive behaviors without apparent threats.
• Experimental data on the costs of habitual avoidance is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if extensive avoidance training impacts subsequent goal-directed reward approach.
• To determine the persistence and cost of habitual avoidance.

Main Methods:

• Participants underwent extensive training to avoid an aversive outcome using distinct stimuli.
• Following devaluation of the aversive outcome, participants performed approach responses for rewards.
• Approach response compatibility with habitual avoidance responses was manipulated.

Main Results:

• Experiment 1 showed lower accuracy in habit-incompatible trials, indicating costly avoidance.
• Experiment 2 revealed slower reaction times in habit-incompatible trials, suggesting low-cost habitual avoidance.
• Habitual avoidance tendencies consistently impacted goal-directed approach.

Conclusions:

• Extensively trained avoidance can have a persistent, albeit sometimes low-cost, impact on subsequent goal-directed behavior.
• Costly habitual responding can be inhibited when goal-directed approach is easily achievable.