Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space

Abstract Action is invigorated in the presence of reward-predicting stimuli and inhibited in the presence of punishment-predicting stimuli. Although valuable as a heuristic, this Pavlovian bias can also lead to maladaptive behaviour and is implicated in addiction. Here we explore whether Pavlovian b...

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Autores principales: Sam Ereira, Marine Pujol, Marc Guitart-Masip, Raymond J. Dolan, Zeb Kurth-Nelson
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Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Nature Portfolio 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/09388100cd714949b3fc2bab504d28e5
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:09388100cd714949b3fc2bab504d28e52021-12-02T14:11:31ZOvercoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space10.1038/s41598-021-82889-82045-2322https://doaj.org/article/09388100cd714949b3fc2bab504d28e52021-02-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82889-8https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Action is invigorated in the presence of reward-predicting stimuli and inhibited in the presence of punishment-predicting stimuli. Although valuable as a heuristic, this Pavlovian bias can also lead to maladaptive behaviour and is implicated in addiction. Here we explore whether Pavlovian bias can be overcome through training. Across five experiments, we find that Pavlovian bias is resistant to unlearning under most task configurations. However, we demonstrate that when subjects engage in instrumental learning in a verbal semantic space, as opposed to a motoric space, not only do they exhibit the typical Pavlovian bias, but this Pavlovian bias diminishes with training. Our results suggest that learning within the semantic space is necessary, but not sufficient, for subjects to unlearn their Pavlovian bias, and that other task features, such as gamification and spaced stimulus presentation may also be necessary. In summary, we show that Pavlovian bias, whilst robust, is susceptible to change with experience, but only under specific environmental conditions.Sam EreiraMarine PujolMarc Guitart-MasipRaymond J. DolanZeb Kurth-NelsonNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic Medicine
R
Science
Q
spellingShingle Medicine
R
Science
Q
Sam Ereira
Marine Pujol
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J. Dolan
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
description Abstract Action is invigorated in the presence of reward-predicting stimuli and inhibited in the presence of punishment-predicting stimuli. Although valuable as a heuristic, this Pavlovian bias can also lead to maladaptive behaviour and is implicated in addiction. Here we explore whether Pavlovian bias can be overcome through training. Across five experiments, we find that Pavlovian bias is resistant to unlearning under most task configurations. However, we demonstrate that when subjects engage in instrumental learning in a verbal semantic space, as opposed to a motoric space, not only do they exhibit the typical Pavlovian bias, but this Pavlovian bias diminishes with training. Our results suggest that learning within the semantic space is necessary, but not sufficient, for subjects to unlearn their Pavlovian bias, and that other task features, such as gamification and spaced stimulus presentation may also be necessary. In summary, we show that Pavlovian bias, whilst robust, is susceptible to change with experience, but only under specific environmental conditions.
format article
author Sam Ereira
Marine Pujol
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J. Dolan
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
author_facet Sam Ereira
Marine Pujol
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J. Dolan
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
author_sort Sam Ereira
title Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
title_short Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
title_full Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
title_fullStr Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
title_full_unstemmed Overcoming Pavlovian bias in semantic space
title_sort overcoming pavlovian bias in semantic space
publisher Nature Portfolio
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/09388100cd714949b3fc2bab504d28e5
work_keys_str_mv AT samereira overcomingpavlovianbiasinsemanticspace
AT marinepujol overcomingpavlovianbiasinsemanticspace
AT marcguitartmasip overcomingpavlovianbiasinsemanticspace
AT raymondjdolan overcomingpavlovianbiasinsemanticspace
AT zebkurthnelson overcomingpavlovianbiasinsemanticspace
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