title: Model-based and model-free decisions in alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human and animal work suggests a shift from goal-directed to habitual decision-making in addiction. However, the evidence for this in human alcohol dependence is as yet inconclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six healthy controls and 26 recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients underwent behavioral testing with a 2-step task designed to disentangle goal-directed and habitual response patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol-dependent patients showed less evidence of goal-directed choices than healthy controls, particularly after losses. There was no difference in the strength of the habitual component. The group differences did not survive controlling for performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic alcohol use appears to selectively impair goal-directed function, rather than promoting habitual responding. It appears to do so particularly after nonrewards, and this may be mediated by the effects of alcohol on more general cognitive functions subserved by the prefrontal cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebold
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deserno
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nebe
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nebe
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schad
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garbusow
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hägele
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jünger
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kathmann
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Quentin J M
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Huys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012201:Reward