Banishing the Control Homunculi in Studies of Action Control and Behavior Change

Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 9(5), P. 497 - 524

Published: Sept. 1, 2014

For centuries, human self-control has fascinated scientists and nonscientists alike. Current theories often attribute it to an executive control system. But even though receives a great deal of attention across disciplines, most aspects are still poorly understood. Many rely on ill-defined set "homunculi" doing jobs like "response inhibition" or "updating" without explaining how they do so. Furthermore, is not always appreciated that takes place different timescales. These two issues hamper major advances. Here we focus the mechanistic basis for actions. We propose at basic level, action depends three cognitive processes: signal detection, selection, execution. processes modulated via error-correction outcome-evaluation mechanisms, preparation, task rules maintained in working long-term memory. also consider actions becomes automatized with practice people develop network. Finally, discuss application this unified framework clinical domains can increase our understanding deficits provide theoretical development novel behavioral change interventions.

Language: Английский

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Sex: A Significant Risk Factor for Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Brain Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(8), P. 154 - 154

Published: Aug. 13, 2018

Males and females sometimes significantly differ in their propensity to develop neurological disorders. Females suffer more from mood disorders such as depression anxiety, whereas males are susceptible deficits the dopamine system including Parkinson’s disease (PD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) autism. Despite this, biological sex is rarely considered when making treatment decisions A better understanding of molecular mechanism(s) underlying differences healthy diseased brain will help devise diagnostic therapeutic strategies optimal for each sex. Thus, aim this review discuss available evidence on neuropsychiatric neurodegenerative regarding prevalence, progression, symptoms response therapy. We also sex-related factors gonadal hormones chromosome genes how these might explain some clinically observed In particular, we highlight emerging role Y-chromosome gene, SRY, male its potential a male-specific risk factor PD, autism, ADHD many individuals.

Language: Английский

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Imaging addiction: D2 receptors and dopamine signaling in the striatum as biomarkers for impulsivity

Neuropharmacology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 76, P. 498 - 509

Published: July 10, 2013

Language: Английский

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In the Blink of an Eye: Relating Positive-Feedback Sensitivity to Striatal Dopamine D₂-Like Receptors through Blink Rate

Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 34(43), P. 14443 - 14454

Published: Oct. 22, 2014

For >30 years, positron emission tomography (PET) has proven to be a powerful approach for measuring aspects of dopaminergic transmission in the living human brain; this technique revealed important relationships between dopamine D 2 -like receptors and dimensions normal behavior, such as impulsivity, psychopathology, particularly behavioral addictions. Nevertheless, PET is an indirect estimate that lacks cellular functional resolution and, some cases, not entirely pharmacologically specific. To identify estimates receptor availability direct vitro measures number, affinity, function, we conducted neuroimaging molecular pharmacological assessments group adult male vervet monkeys. Data gathered from these studies indicate variation measurements related reversal-learning performance sensitivity positive feedback associated with density receptors. Furthermore, report simple measure, eyeblink rate, reveals novel crucial links

Language: Английский

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Who are those “risk-taking adolescents”? Individual differences in developmental neuroimaging research

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 11, P. 56 - 64

Published: Aug. 12, 2014

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has illuminated the development of human brain function. Some this work in typically-developing youth ostensibly captured neural underpinnings adolescent behavior which is characterized by risk-seeking propensity, according to psychometric questionnaires and a wealth anecdote. Notably, cross-sectional comparisons have revealed age-dependent differences between adolescents other age groups regional responsiveness prospective or experienced rewards (usually greater adolescents) penalties diminished adolescents). These been interpreted as reflecting an imbalance motivational drive behavioral control mechanisms, especially mid-adolescence, thus promoting risk-taking. While intriguing, we caution here that researchers should be more circumspect attributing clinically significant risky age-group task-elicited fMRI responses from neurotypical subjects. This because actual mortality morbidity causes (e.g. substance abuse, violence) mid-adolescence heavily concentrated individuals who are not neurotypical, rather shown lifelong history disinhibition frequently meets criteria for disruptive disorder, such conduct oppositional-defiant attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. young people at extreme risk poor psychosocial outcomes, focus future neurodevelopmental research.

Language: Английский

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Compulsivity in anorexia nervosa: a transdiagnostic concept

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: July 17, 2014

The compulsive nature of weight loss behaviours central to Anorexia Nervosa (AN), such as relentless self-starvation and over-exercise, has led the suggestion parallels between AN other disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) addictions. There is a huge unmet need for effective treatments in AN, which high rates morbidity highest mortality rate any psychiatric disorder, yet grave paucity treatments. Viewing compulsivity transdiagnostic concept, seen various manifestations across disorders, may help delineate mechanisms responsible persistence aid treatment development. We explore models that suggest dysfunction cortico-striatal circuitry underpins behaviour, consider evidence aberrances this disorders. Excessive habit formation considered mechanism by initially rewarding behaviour become over time, complex balance positive negative reinforcement process considered. physiological effects starvation promoting compulsivity, are also discussed. Further research benefit from focus on processes potentially underlying development aberrant reward processing formation. discuss implications perspective how it contribute novel AN.

Language: Английский

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Cognitive test batteries in animal cognition research: evaluating the past, present and future of comparative psychometrics

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 20(6), P. 1003 - 1018

Published: Oct. 9, 2017

Language: Английский

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Reward, interrupted: Inhibitory control and its relevance to addictions

Neuropharmacology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 76, P. 479 - 486

Published: June 4, 2013

Language: Английский

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Neural substrates of cognitive flexibility in cocaine and gambling addictions

The British Journal of Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 207(2), P. 158 - 164

Published: June 5, 2015

Individuals with cocaine and gambling addictions exhibit cognitive flexibility deficits that may underlie persistence of harmful behaviours.We investigated the neural substrates inflexibility in users v. pathological gamblers, aiming to disambiguate common mechanisms effects.Eighteen users, 18 gamblers controls performed a probabilistic reversal learning task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, were genotyped for DRD2/ANKK Taq1A polymorphism.Cocaine exhibited reduced ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) signal shifting. Cocaine further showed increased dorsomedial PFC (dmPFC) activation relative perseveration, decreased dorsolateral Preliminary genetic findings indicated carrying Taq1A1+ genotype derive unique stimulatory effects on shifting-related signal.Reduced shifting constitute marker across addictions. Additional cocaine-related relate wider pattern task-related dysregulation, reflected abnormalities dmPFC.

Language: Английский

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Contingency Learning in Alcohol Dependence and Pathological Gambling: Learning and Unlearning Reward Contingencies

Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 38(6), P. 1602 - 1610

Published: May 12, 2014

Patients with alcohol dependence (AD) and pathological gambling (PG) are characterized by dysfunctional reward processing their ability to adapt alterations of contingencies is impaired. However, most neurocognitive tasks investigating involve a complex mix elements, such as working memory, immediate delayed rewards, risk-taking. As consequence, it not clear whether contingency learning altered in AD or PG. Therefore, the current study aimed examine performance deterministic task, discrimination, reversal, extinction learning.Thirty-three alcohol-dependent patients (ADs), 28 gamblers (PGs), 18 healthy controls (HCs) performed task which they learned stimulus-reward associations that were first reversed later extinguished while receiving feedback throughout. Accumulated points, number perseverative errors trials required reach criterion each phase compared between groups using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum tests. Regression analyses compare curves.PGs ADs did differ from HCs discrimination learning, reversal on analyses, however, showed differences initial speed learning: PGs significantly faster ADs, both slower than phases task.Learning rates for group PG HCs, suggesting reversing extinguishing require more effort PGs. This implicates diminished flexibility overcome previously contingencies.

Language: Английский

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