Behavioral and neuroimaging evidence for overreliance on habit learning in alcohol-dependent patients

• DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.107
• Publication Date: 2013-12-17T14:38:07Z
• Authors: Z Sjoerds; S de Wit; W van den Brink; T W Robbins; A T F Beekman; B W J H Penninx; D J Veltman
• Keywords: Putamen; Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Substance dependence is characterized by compulsive drug-taking despite negative consequences. Animal research suggests an underlying imbalance between goal-directed and habitual action control with chronic drug use. However, this imbalance, its associated neurophysiological mechanisms, has not yet been experimentally investigated in human abusers. The aim of the present study therefore was to assess balance habit-based learning neural correlates abstinent alcohol-dependent (AD) patients. A total 31 AD patients 19 age, gender education matched healthy controls (HC) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during completion instrumental task designed habit learning. Task performance task-related blood oxygen level-dependent activations brain were compared controls. Findings additionally duration severity alcohol dependence. results provide evidence for overreliance on stimulus-response HC, which accompanied decreased engagement areas implicated (ventromedial prefrontal cortex anterior putamen) increased recruitment (posterior In conclusion, first experimental a disturbed use task, directly implicate cortical dysfunction inflexible habits