Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction
Abstract Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with substantially reduced quality of life. Yet, decisions to use persist, due in part to avoidance of anticipated withdrawal states. However, the specific cognitive mechanisms underlying this decision process, and possible modulatory effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Communications Psychology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00269-8 |
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| author | Carter M. Goldman Toru Takahashi Claire A. Lavalley Ning Li Samuel M. Taylor Anne E. Chuning Rowan Hodson Jennifer L. Stewart Robert C. Wilson Sahib S. Khalsa Martin P. Paulus Ryan Smith |
| author_facet | Carter M. Goldman Toru Takahashi Claire A. Lavalley Ning Li Samuel M. Taylor Anne E. Chuning Rowan Hodson Jennifer L. Stewart Robert C. Wilson Sahib S. Khalsa Martin P. Paulus Ryan Smith |
| author_sort | Carter M. Goldman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with substantially reduced quality of life. Yet, decisions to use persist, due in part to avoidance of anticipated withdrawal states. However, the specific cognitive mechanisms underlying this decision process, and possible modulatory effects of aversive states, remain unclear. Here, 56 individuals with MUD and 58 healthy comparisons (HCs) performed a decision task, both with and without an aversive interoceptive state induction. Computational modeling measured the tendency to test beliefs about uncertain outcomes (directed exploration) and the ability to update beliefs in response to outcomes (learning rates). Compared to HCs, the MUD group exhibited less directed exploration and slower learning rates, but these differences were not affected by the aversive state induction. Follow-up analyses further suggested that reduced exploration in those with MUD was best explained by greater avoidance of uncertainty on the task, and that trait differences in cognitive reflectiveness might account for these differences in task behavior. These results suggest state-independent computational mechanisms whereby individuals with MUD may have difficulties in testing beliefs about the tolerability of abstinence and in adjusting behavior in response to consequences of continued use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0e3c03a0f6f446ea5d2c3cec746b07d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-9121 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0e3c03a0f6f446ea5d2c3cec746b07d2025-08-20T02:30:59ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Psychology2731-91212025-06-013111410.1038/s44271-025-00269-8Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state inductionCarter M. Goldman0Toru Takahashi1Claire A. Lavalley2Ning Li3Samuel M. Taylor4Anne E. Chuning5Rowan Hodson6Jennifer L. Stewart7Robert C. Wilson8Sahib S. Khalsa9Martin P. Paulus10Ryan Smith11Laureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchSchool of Psychology, Georgia Institute of TechnologyLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchAbstract Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with substantially reduced quality of life. Yet, decisions to use persist, due in part to avoidance of anticipated withdrawal states. However, the specific cognitive mechanisms underlying this decision process, and possible modulatory effects of aversive states, remain unclear. Here, 56 individuals with MUD and 58 healthy comparisons (HCs) performed a decision task, both with and without an aversive interoceptive state induction. Computational modeling measured the tendency to test beliefs about uncertain outcomes (directed exploration) and the ability to update beliefs in response to outcomes (learning rates). Compared to HCs, the MUD group exhibited less directed exploration and slower learning rates, but these differences were not affected by the aversive state induction. Follow-up analyses further suggested that reduced exploration in those with MUD was best explained by greater avoidance of uncertainty on the task, and that trait differences in cognitive reflectiveness might account for these differences in task behavior. These results suggest state-independent computational mechanisms whereby individuals with MUD may have difficulties in testing beliefs about the tolerability of abstinence and in adjusting behavior in response to consequences of continued use.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00269-8 |
| spellingShingle | Carter M. Goldman Toru Takahashi Claire A. Lavalley Ning Li Samuel M. Taylor Anne E. Chuning Rowan Hodson Jennifer L. Stewart Robert C. Wilson Sahib S. Khalsa Martin P. Paulus Ryan Smith Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction Communications Psychology |
| title | Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| title_full | Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| title_fullStr | Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| title_short | Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| title_sort | individuals with methamphetamine use disorder show reduced directed exploration and learning rates independent of an aversive interoceptive state induction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00269-8 |
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