Impaired Bayesian learning for cognitive control in cocaine dependence

Author(s)

Ide, Jaime S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Hu, Sien ^[1] ; Zhang, Sheng ^[1] ; Yu, Angela J. ^[3] ; Li, Chiang-shan R. ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Yale Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat, New Haven, CT 06519 - USA

^[2] SUNY Stony Brook, Dept Biomed Engn, Stony Brook, NY 11794 - USA

^[3] Univ Calif San Diego, Dept Cognit Sci, La Jolla, CA 92093 - USA

^[4] Yale Univ, Sch Med, Dept Neurobiol, New Haven, CT 06520 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE; v. 151, p. 220-227, JUN 1 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 9

Abstract

Background: Cocaine dependence is associated with cognitive control deficits. Here, we-apply a Bayesian model of stop-signal task (SST) performance to further characterize these deficits in a theory-driven framework. Methods: A ``sequential effect{''} is commonly observed in SST: encounters with a stop trial tend to prolong reaction time (RT) on subsequent go trials. The Bayesian model accounts for this by assuming that each stop/go trial increases/decreases the subject's belief about the likelihood of encountering a subsequent stop trial, P(stop), and that P(stop) strategically modulates RT accordingly. Parameters of the model were individually fit, and compared between cocaine-dependent (CD, n = 51) and healthy control (HC, n = 57) groups, matched in age and gender and both demonstrating a significant sequential effect (p <0.05). Model-free measures of sequential effect, post-error slowing (PES) and post-stop slowing (PSS), were also compared across groups. Results: By comparing individually fit Bayesian model parameters, CD were found to utilize a smaller time window of past experiences to anticipate P(stop) (p <0.003), as well as showing less behavioral adjustment in response to P(stop) (p <0.015). PES (p = 0.19) and PSS (p = 0.14) did not show group differences and were less correlated with the Bayesian account of sequential effect in CD than in HC. Conclusions: Cocaine dependence is associated with the utilization of less contextual information to anticipate future events and decreased behavioral adaptation in response to changes in such anticipation. These findings constitute a novel contribution by providing a computationally more refined and statistically more sensitive account of altered cognitive control in cocaine addiction. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/08573-4 - Functional connectivity analysis of drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery
• Grantee: Jaime Shinsuke Ide
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants