Model-based learning and individual differences in depression: The moderating role of stress
Abstract
Inflexible decision-making has been proposed as a transdiagnostic risk factor for mood disorders. Evidence suggests that inflexible decision-making may emerge only when individuals are experiencing increased negative affect or stress. 151 participants completed symptom measures of depression and anxiety, followed by a two-stage decision-making task that distinguishes between habitual and goal-directed choice. An experimental manipulation to induce stress was introduced halfway through the task. Individuals with higher depression levels became less model-based after the manipulation than those with lower depression levels. There was no relationship between trait anxiety and the impact of the manipulation on decision-making. Controlling for main effects of anxiety did not attenuate the association between depression and impact of stress. Anhedonia was associated with the impact of the manipulation on model-based decision-making. These results suggest that risk for depression is associated with reflexive decision-making, but these effects may only emerge under conditions of stress.
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The literature suggests alterations in the distinct reinforcement learning systems that underlie model-free and model-based decision-making processes in OCD, MDD, and schizophrenia.
“The literature suggests alterations in the distinct reinforcement learning systems that underlie model-free and model-based decision-making processes in OCD, MDD, and schizophrenia. 59,63,69–74”
From Investigating disorder-specific and transdiagnostic alterations in model-based and model-free decision-making (2024) · cites this paper as [72]
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References 45 · Cited by 29
- Authors
- Heller, A. S., Ezie, C. E. C., Otto, A. R., & Timpano, K. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- McGill University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Heller, Aaron S.
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-12
- Volume
- 111
- Pages
- 19-26
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2893504271
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 2.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Keywords
- model-based learning, model-free learning, decision-making, depression, stress, individual differences, anhedonia, trait anxiety, transdiagnostic risk factors, mood disorders, negative affect
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Decision Making, Depression, Female, Humans, Individuality, Learning, Male, Speech, Young Adult
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