Quanhao Yu , Feng Gao , Chuting Li , Jie Xia , Yanyuan Cao , Xiang Wang , Chuman Xiao , Jingjie Lu , Qian Liu , Jie Fan , Xiongzhao Zhu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Previous research has found that compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are associated with an imbalance between goal-directed and habitual responses. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying how goal-directed and habitual behaviors are learned, and how these learning deficits affect the response process, remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate these cognitive mechanisms and examine how they were involved in the mechanism of compulsions.
Methods
A total of 49 patients with OCD and 38 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited to perform the revised “slip of action test”. A reinforcement learning model was constructed, and model parameters including learning rates, reinforcement sensitivity, and perseveration were estimated using a hierarchical Bayesian approach. Comparisons of these parameters were made between the OCD group and HCs, and the associations with performance during the outcome devalued stage and clinical presentations were assessed.
Results
In the outcome devalued stage, patients with OCD exhibited greatet responsiveness to the devalued outcome, indicating their impairment in flexible and goal-directed behavioral control. Computational modeling further revealed that, during the instrumental learning stage, patients with OCD showed reduced learning rates, decreased perseveration, and heightened reinforcement sensitivity as compared with HCs. The learning rate and perseveration during instrumental learning were significantly correlated with the performance in the outcome devalued stage and compulsive scores in OCD.
Conclusions
The results indicate that patients with OCD exhibit deficits in updating the associative strength based on prediction errors and are more likely to doubt established correct associations during goal-directed and habitual learning. These deficits may contribute to the inflexible goal-directed behavioral control and are involved in the mechanism of compulsion in OCD.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology is dedicated to publishing manuscripts with a strong emphasis on both basic and applied research, encompassing experimental, clinical, and theoretical contributions that advance the fields of Clinical and Health Psychology. With a focus on four core domains—clinical psychology and psychotherapy, psychopathology, health psychology, and clinical neurosciences—the IJCHP seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for scholarly discourse and innovation. The journal accepts Original Articles (empirical studies) and Review Articles. Manuscripts submitted to IJCHP should be original and not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. All signing authors must unanimously agree on the submitted version of the manuscript. By submitting their work, authors agree to transfer their copyrights to the Journal for the duration of the editorial process.