Longitudinal monitoring of cognitive control as a modifying factor of drinking behavior (TRR 265, Project A02)
The implicit assumption that intra-individual changes in cognitive control and decision-making are reflected by changes in real-life drinking behavior remains largely untested. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by maladaptive control that includes an inability to stop alcohol intake in the face of detrimental consequences. Continuing alcohol use, despite an intentional aim to reduce intake or remain abstinent, points to a failure in cognitive control that is often presumed to reflect reduced goal-directed and increased habitual decision-making. Thus far, there remains a gap in measuring cognitive control constructs in the lab and real-life data that captures drinking behavior and self-control. Therefore, we aim to identify differential cognitive trajectories related to (1) losing and (2) regaining control over everyday drinking behavior, and (3) to better understand how cognitive control modifies the impact of known triggers for alcohol intake (exposure to stress, drug cues, priming doses) as well as the impact of subjective states (craving, mood) on control over drinking behavior.
We will investigate these issues by using a smartphone application for the sparse longitudinal ambulatory assessment of cognitive control and decision-making, once per month over one year, in an age-stratified cohort of 900 individuals with AUD (WP1 & 2). In WP1, we will use four already established short app-based and gamified experiments to assess inhibitory control, risk taking, working memory, and Pavlovian bias. In WP2, we will develop app-based experiments in a computational framework to assess goal-directed decision-making and add both to longitudinal data collection. Drinking patterns, environmental factors and subjective states will be assessed longitudinally with ambulatory assessments including ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in close collaboration with Project A01 (Rapp, Banaschewski, Heinz). In WP3, we will develop a novel intense cognitive and physiological ambulatory assessment to predict shifts in drinking behavior, both within hours and across days, for application in further funding periods.
Principle Investigators
Prof. Dr. Lorenz Deserno, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Prof. Dr. Michael Smolka, Technische Universität Dresden
Staff
Funding
402170461 – TRR 265
Link
FP2 - Domain A: Collaborative Research Centre TRR 265: Losing and Regaining Control over Drug Intake