Effects of cognitive bias modification training on neural signatures of alcohol approach tendencies in male alcohol‐dependent patients

• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12221
• Publication Date: 2015-01-13T19:58:45Z
• Authors: Corinde E. Wiers; Vera U. Ludwig; Thomas E. Gladwin; Soyoung Q. Park; Andreas Heinz; Reinout W. Wiers; Mike Rinck; Johannes Lindenmeyer; Henrik Walter; Felix Bermpohl
• Keywords: Attentional Bias; Cognitive bias modification

Alcohol-dependent patients have been shown to faster approach than avoid alcohol stimuli on the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT). This so-called bias has associated with increased brain activation in medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Cognitive modification (CBM) used retrain clinically relevant effect of decreasing relapse rates one year later. The effects CBM neural signatures approach/avoidance tendencies remain hitherto unknown. In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 26 alcohol-dependent in-patients were assigned or placebo training group. Both groups performed AAT for three weeks: training, pushed away 90 percent cues; this rate was 50 training. Before after offline, 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. neuroimaging contrast difference between approaching versus avoiding cues relative soft drink cues: [(alcohol pull > push) (soft push)]. both showed significant bias-related cortex. After group stronger reductions compared Moreover, these correlated scores only. suggests that affects mechanisms involved automatic bias, which may be important clinical effectiveness CBM.