Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 31, Issue 04  

Authors' Response

Addiction as vulnerabilities in the decision process

A. David Redisha1, Steve Jensena2 and Adam Johnsona3

a1 Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

a2 Graduate Program in Computer Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

a3 Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Center for Cognitive Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. redish@umn.edu http://umn.edu/~redish/ jens0491@umn.edu john5726@umn.edu

Abstract

In our target article, we proposed that addiction could be envisioned as misperformance of a decision-making machinery described by two systems (deliberative and habit systems). Several commentators have argued that Pavlovian learning also produces actions. We agree and note that Pavlovian action-selection will provide several additional vulnerabilities. Several commentators have suggested that addiction arises from sociological parameters. We note in our response how sociological effects can change decision-making variables to provide additional vulnerabilities. Commentators generally have agreed that our theory provides a framework within which to site addiction and treatment, but additional work will be needed to determine whether our taxonomy will help identify and treat subpopulations within the addicted community.

Related Articles

    A unified framework for addiction: Vulnerabilities in the decision process A. David Redish, Steve Jensen and Adam Johnson Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 redish@umn.edu http://umn.edu/~redish/; Graduate Program in Computer Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 jens0491@umn.edu; Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Center for Cognitive Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 john5726@umn.edu