Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of reward and punishment on inhibitory control in the alcohol use disorder (AUD) group and healthy control group. Methods: Eighteen male patients with AUD and twenty-one age- and education-matched male healthy controls were recruited for the study. Participants engaged in the two-choice oddball paradigm, which included reward, punishment, and neutral conditions. Participants were asked to respond differently to standard and deviant stimuli as accurately and quickly as possible. Results: For reaction time measures, deviant - standard difference of the healthy control group did not show any difference; however, deviant - standard difference of the AUD group was significantly larger in the reward condition than in the neutral condition. For accuracy measures, deviant - standard difference of the healthy control group did not show any difference; however, deviant - standard difference of the AUD group was significantly larger in the neutral condition than in the reward condition, indicating a greater decline in accuracy for deviant stimuli. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that either reward nor punishment effectively enhanced inhibitory control in AUD patients. Notably, the reward condition was associated with a further decline in inhibitory control. It is advisable to avoid relying solely on reward- or punishment-based behavioral correction strategies, as they might heighten psychological stress and negative emotions, potentially worsening deficits in inhibitory control.
Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors: Yalei Li, Xu Cai, Yinzhao Liu, Liping Jia, Guohua Lu
Institutions: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G3021900569
OpenAlex ID: W4411255913