Dissociable habits of response preparation versus response initiation

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/akz3b
• Publication Date: 2023-07-18T05:00:54Z
• Authors: Yue Du; Adrian Haith
• Keywords: Habit; Association (psychology); Automaticity

Behaviors we repeat often tend to become habitual, after which they are difficult prevent or modify. The process of habit formation in humans is commonly studied the context learning an arbitrary association between stimuli and responses. Assessing whether not this becomes habitual usually involves testing either participants can withhold certain responses, alter their responses stimuli. However, studies using these two methods have yielded conflicting findings. We propose that discrepancy arises because approaches target distinct forms associated with different components action control: response initiation preparation, respectively. Through a series experiments, along computational models, show indeed measure dissociable habit. Our results illustrate given behavior multiple, qualitatively ways, important implications for how habits best be promoted eliminated.