Invisible Hands and Fine Calipers: A Call to Use Formal Theory as a Toolkit for Theory Construction

Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. 725 - 743

Published: Feb. 16, 2021

In recent years, a growing chorus of researchers has argued that psychological theory is in state crisis: Theories are rarely developed way indicates an accumulation knowledge. Paul Meehl raised this very concern more than 40 years ago. Yet the ensuing decades, little improved. We aim to chart better path forward for by revisiting Meehl’s criticisms, his proposed solution, and reasons solution failed meaningfully change status theory. argue identified serious shortcomings our evaluation theories would substantially strengthen testing. However, we also provide with tools necessary construct kinds rigorous approach required. To advance theory, must equip allow them generate, evaluate, develop their theories. formal much-needed set tools, equipping thinking, evaluating explanation, enhancing measurement, informing development, promoting collaborative construction

Language: Английский

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Modeling psychopathology: From data models to formal theories.

Psychological Methods, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 4, 2021

Over the past decade, there has been a surge of empirical research investigating mental disorders as complex systems. In this article, we investigate how to best make use growing body and move field toward its fundamental aims explaining, predicting, controlling psychopathology. We first review contemporary philosophy science literature on scientific theories argue that fully achieving explanation, prediction, control requires construct formal disorders: expressed in language mathematics or computational programming language. then three routes by which one can findings (i.e., data models) theories: (a) using models themselves theories, (b) infer (c) comparing theory-implied order evaluate refine an existing theory. third approach is most promising path forward. conclude introducing abductive theory construction (AFTC) framework, informed both our methodological investigation. provides clear way forward for inform generation, development, testing domain psychopathology broader psychological science. (PsycInfo Database Record 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: Английский

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From compulsivity to compulsion: the neural basis of compulsive disorders

Nature reviews. Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 25(5), P. 313 - 333

Published: April 9, 2024

Language: Английский

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Modeling Psychopathology: From Data Models to Formal Theories

Published: Dec. 10, 2019

Over the past decade there has been a surge of empirical research investigating mental disorders as complex systems. In this paper, we investigate how to best make use growing body and move field toward its fundamental aims explaining, predicting, controlling psychopathology. We first review contemporary philosophy science literature on scientific theories argue that fully achieving explanation, prediction, control requires construct formal disorders: expressed in language mathematics or computational programming language. then three routes by which one can findings (i.e., data models) theories: (a) using models themselves theories, (b) infer (c) comparing theory-implied order evaluate refine an existing theory. third approach is most promising path forward. conclude introducing Abductive Formal Theory Construction (AFTC) framework, informed both our methodological investigation. provides clear way forward for inform generation, development, testing domain psychopathology broader psychological science.

Language: Английский

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Contingency-based flexibility mechanisms through a reinforcement learning model in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Comprehensive Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 139, P. 152589 - 152589

Published: March 13, 2025

Impaired cognitive flexibility is associated with the characteristic symptomatology of ADHD and OCD. However, mechanisms underlying learning under uncertainty in adults OCD or remain unclear. This study aimed to identify contingency-based a sample OCD, using probabilistic reversal task, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, computational modelling. 148 Spanish-speaking (43 53 52 healthy controls) completed task. Previously, we obtained resting-state connectivity (rsFC) record between several frontoparietal network regions spectroscopy. Contingency-based was explored by reinforcement model combination Bayesian Generalized Logistic Model (GLM). The parameters included reward punishment rates (feedback sensitivity), inverse temperature (decision consistency). GLM were defined measure final accuracy, speed learning. We found that groups showed optimal performance discrimination block higher controls compared patients block. predicted task differently phase group. In block, while such as high rate together low values rate, case clinical it only temperature. rate; contrast, also predictors. rsFC left right posterior parietal cortex appears credibly predict controls. These results suggest could be poor behavioral adaptation when reinforcement-punishment contingencies changed. difficulties observed likely stem from different affect both switching processes. Findings highlighted how show greater sensitivity there about behavior-outcome association. Instead, group can guided reinforcement. Interhemispheric important for

Language: Английский

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Invisible Hands and Fine Calipers: A Call to Use Formal Theory as a Toolkit for Theory Construction

Published: March 25, 2020

In recent years, a growing chorus of researchers have argued that psychological theory is in state crisis: theories are rarely developed way indicates an accumulation knowledge and they often absent from our research entirely. More than 40 years ago, Paul Meehl raised these very concerns. Yet, the ensuing decades, little has improved. We aim to chart better path forward for by revisiting Meehl's criticisms, his proposed solution, reasons solution failed meaningful change status theory. argue identified serious shortcomings evaluation would substantially strengthen testing. However, we also he provide set tools construction. To advance theory, must equip with generate, evaluate, develop their theories. formal this much needed tools, equipping thinking, evaluating explanation, informing development, strengthening measurement, moving toward collaborative construction allow us explain, predict, control phenomena.

Language: Английский

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Everything is connected: Inference and attractors in delusions

Schizophrenia Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 245, P. 5 - 22

Published: Aug. 9, 2021

Delusions are, by popular definition, false beliefs that are held with certainty and resistant to contradictory evidence. They seem at odds the notion brain least approximates Bayesian inference. This is especially case in schizophrenia, a disorder thought relate decreased - rather than increased brain's model of world. We use an active inference Markov decision process (a Bayes-optimal decision-making agent) perform simple task involving social non-social inferences. show even moderate changes some parameters decreasing confidence sensory input increasing states implied its own (especially habitual) actions can lead delusions as defined above. Incorporating affect increases delusions, specifically domain. The also reproduces classic psychological effects, including choice-induced preference change, optimism bias inferences about oneself. A key observation no change single parameter both necessary sufficient for delusions; rather, arise due conditional dependencies create 'basins attraction' which trap beliefs. Simulating effects antidopaminergic antipsychotics reducing model's demonstrates escape from these attractors, through this synthetic pharmacotherapy.

Language: Английский

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The prefrontal cortex and OCD

Neuropsychopharmacology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 211 - 224

Published: Aug. 16, 2021

Language: Английский

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Transdiagnostic computations of uncertainty: towards a new lens on intolerance of uncertainty

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 148, P. 105123 - 105123

Published: March 11, 2023

People radically differ in how they cope with uncertainty. Clinical researchers describe a dispositional characteristic known as "intolerance of uncertainty", tendency to find uncertainty aversive, reported be elevated across psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions. Concurrently, recent research computational psychiatry has leveraged theoretical work characterise individual differences processing. Under this framework, people estimate different forms can contribute mental health difficulties. In review, we briefly outline the concept intolerance within its clinical context, argue that mechanisms underlying construct may further elucidated through modelling individuals make inferences about We will review evidence linking psychopathology computationally specified consider these findings might suggest distinct mechanistic routes towards also discuss implications approach for behavioural pharmacological interventions, well importance cognitive domains subjective experiences studying

Language: Английский

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Perseveration and Shifting in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as a Function of Uncertainty, Punishment, and Serotonergic Medication

Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(1), P. 326 - 335

Published: July 13, 2023

The nature of cognitive flexibility deficits in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), historically tested with probabilistic reversal learning tasks, remains elusive. Here, a novel deterministic task and inclusion an unmedicated patients illuminated the role fixed versus uncertain rules/contingencies serotonergic medication. Additionally, our understanding was enhanced through theoretical computational modeling OCD. We recruited 49 OCD, whom 21 were unmedicated, 43 healthy controls, matched for age, IQ, gender. Participants on two tasks: visuo-motor three reversals (feedback rewarding/punishing/neutral) measuring accuracy/perseveration two-choice visual feedback single win stay lose shift. Bayesian provided measures rate, reinforcement sensitivity, stimulus stickiness. Unmedicated OCD impaired at under punishment only first third reversals, compared both controls medicated patients, who had no deficit. Perseverative errors correlated severity. On task, reversal, whereas stages. Computational showed that overall change reduced sensitivity groups. Both perseveration increased shifting can be observed depending test conditions including predictability reinforcement. Perseveration related to clinical severity remediated by

Language: Английский

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