TY - JOUR
T1 - A novel free-operant framework enables experimental habit induction in humans
AU - Gera, Rani
AU - Barak, Segev
AU - Schonberg, Tom
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2024/6
Y1 - 2024/6
N2 - Habits are a prominent feature of both adaptive and maladaptive behavior. Yet, despite substantial research efforts, there are currently no well-established experimental procedures for habit induction in humans. It is likely that laboratory experimental settings, as well as the session-based structure typically used in controlled experiments (also outside the lab), impose serious constraints on studying habits and other effects that are sensitive to context, motivation, and training duration and frequency. To overcome these challenges, we devised a unique real-world free-operant task structure, implemented through a novel smartphone application, whereby participants could freely enter the app (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to win rewards. This procedure is free of typical laboratory constraints, yet well controlled. Using the canonical sensitivity to outcome devaluation criterion, we successfully demonstrated habit formation as a function of training duration, a long-standing challenge in the field. Additionally, we show a positive relationship between multiple facets of engagement/motivation and goal-directedness. We suggest that our novel paradigm can be used to study the neurobehavioral and psychological mechanism underlying habits in humans. Moreover, the real-world free-operant framework can potentially be used to examine other instrumental behavior-related questions, with greater face validity in naturalistic conditions.
AB - Habits are a prominent feature of both adaptive and maladaptive behavior. Yet, despite substantial research efforts, there are currently no well-established experimental procedures for habit induction in humans. It is likely that laboratory experimental settings, as well as the session-based structure typically used in controlled experiments (also outside the lab), impose serious constraints on studying habits and other effects that are sensitive to context, motivation, and training duration and frequency. To overcome these challenges, we devised a unique real-world free-operant task structure, implemented through a novel smartphone application, whereby participants could freely enter the app (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to win rewards. This procedure is free of typical laboratory constraints, yet well controlled. Using the canonical sensitivity to outcome devaluation criterion, we successfully demonstrated habit formation as a function of training duration, a long-standing challenge in the field. Additionally, we show a positive relationship between multiple facets of engagement/motivation and goal-directedness. We suggest that our novel paradigm can be used to study the neurobehavioral and psychological mechanism underlying habits in humans. Moreover, the real-world free-operant framework can potentially be used to examine other instrumental behavior-related questions, with greater face validity in naturalistic conditions.
KW - Free-operant
KW - Goal-directed behavior
KW - Habits
KW - Learning
KW - Mobile application
KW - Model-based learning
KW - Model-free learning
KW - Motivation
KW - Real-world
KW - Reward
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85177476774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3758/s13428-023-02263-6
DO - 10.3758/s13428-023-02263-6
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C2 - 37989835
AN - SCOPUS:85177476774
SN - 1554-351X
VL - 56
SP - 3937
EP - 3958
JO - Behavior Research Methods
JF - Behavior Research Methods
IS - 4
ER -