Mechanisms of Long-Term Nonexternally Reinforced Preference Change: Functional Connectivity Changes in a Longitudinal...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Behavioral change interventions often rely on external reinforcements.
• Cue-approach training (CAT) modifies preferences through stimulus association and motor response without external rewards.
• Previous research indicates CAT's behavioral effects can persist for months.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms and long-term maintenance of preference changes induced by non-externally reinforced versus incentive-reinforced CAT.
• To compare behavioral performance and functional connectivity (FC) between neutral-cue and incentive-cue training groups over one year.

Main Methods:

• A modified cue-approach training (CAT) paradigm was employed with 107 participants.
• Participants were assigned to either a neutral-cue or an incentive-cue group (monetary reward association).
• Behavioral performance and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for functional connectivity (FC) were assessed at five time points over one year.

Main Results:

• Non-externally reinforced (neutral-cue) participants maintained behavioral changes for up to six months, while the incentive-cue group did not.
• The incentive-cue group exhibited increased FC within the limbic system.
• The neutral-cue group showed enhanced FC within and between the default-mode and dorsal-attention networks.

Conclusions:

• Non-externally reinforced CAT promotes sustained behavioral changes, suggesting an internal reinforcement mechanism.
• Distinct neural connectivity patterns differentiate maintained preference changes based on reinforcement type.
• Findings support the use of non-external reinforcement strategies for long-term behavioral interventions.