Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task

René Freichel; Erynn Christensen; Lana Mrkonja; Peter J de Jong; Janna Cousijn; Ingmar Franken; Murat Yücel; Rico Lee; Ilya M Veer; Lucy Albertella; Reinout W Wiers

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534

Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task

René Freichel^*, Erynn Christensen, Lana Mrkonja, Peter J de Jong, Janna Cousijn, Ingmar Franken, Murat Yücel, Rico Lee, Ilya M Veer, Lucy Albertella, Reinout W Wiers

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Attentional biases towards reward stimuli have been implicated in substance use-related problems. The value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC) task assesses such reward-related biases. The VMAC task widely used in lab studies tends to be monotonous and susceptible to low effort. We therefore tested a gamified online version of the VMAC that aimed to increase participant engagement. Our goal was to examine how VMAC is associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors, and whether this association is moderated by cognitive control.

METHODS:

We recruited 285 participants from an online community, including heavy alcohol users. All participants completed a novel gamified version of the VMAC task, measures of substance use and addictive behaviors (addictive-like eating behavior, problematic smartphone use), the WebExec measure of problems with executive functions, and the Stroop Adaptive Deadline Task (SDL) as a measure of cognitive control.

RESULTS:

The gamified VMAC task successfully identified value-modulated attentional capture effects towards high-reward stimuli. We found no significant associations between VMAC scores, problematic alcohol or cannabis use, addictive behaviors, or any moderation by a behavioral measure of cognitive control. Exploratory analyses revealed that self-reported cognitive problems were associated with more alcohol-, and cannabis-related problems, and addictive behaviors. Greater attentional capture (VMAC) was associated with more cannabis use-related problems among individuals with higher levels of self-reported cognitive problems.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study is one of the first to demonstrate the utility of the gamified version of the VMAC task in capturing attentional reward biases. Self-reported problems with cognitive functions represent a key dimension associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors.

Original language	English
Article number	100534
Journal	Addictive Behaviors Reports
Volume	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534
Publication status	Published - Jun 2024

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Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)

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Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive BehaviorsFinal published version, 2.6 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Freichel, R., Christensen, E., Mrkonja, L., de Jong, P. J., Cousijn, J., Franken, I., Yücel, M., Lee, R., Veer, I. M., Albertella, L., & Wiers, R. W. (2024). Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 19, Article 100534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534

@article{274df6577653448b83ec20ae0d518092,

title = "Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Attentional biases towards reward stimuli have been implicated in substance use-related problems. The value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC) task assesses such reward-related biases. The VMAC task widely used in lab studies tends to be monotonous and susceptible to low effort. We therefore tested a gamified online version of the VMAC that aimed to increase participant engagement. Our goal was to examine how VMAC is associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors, and whether this association is moderated by cognitive control.METHODS: We recruited 285 participants from an online community, including heavy alcohol users. All participants completed a novel gamified version of the VMAC task, measures of substance use and addictive behaviors (addictive-like eating behavior, problematic smartphone use), the WebExec measure of problems with executive functions, and the Stroop Adaptive Deadline Task (SDL) as a measure of cognitive control.RESULTS: The gamified VMAC task successfully identified value-modulated attentional capture effects towards high-reward stimuli. We found no significant associations between VMAC scores, problematic alcohol or cannabis use, addictive behaviors, or any moderation by a behavioral measure of cognitive control. Exploratory analyses revealed that self-reported cognitive problems were associated with more alcohol-, and cannabis-related problems, and addictive behaviors. Greater attentional capture (VMAC) was associated with more cannabis use-related problems among individuals with higher levels of self-reported cognitive problems.CONCLUSIONS: Our study is one of the first to demonstrate the utility of the gamified version of the VMAC task in capturing attentional reward biases. Self-reported problems with cognitive functions represent a key dimension associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors.",

author = "Ren{\'e} Freichel and Erynn Christensen and Lana Mrkonja and {de Jong}, {Peter J} and Janna Cousijn and Ingmar Franken and Murat Y{\"u}cel and Rico Lee and Veer, {Ilya M} and Lucy Albertella and Wiers, {Reinout W}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s)",

year = "2024",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

journal = "Addictive Behaviors Reports",

issn = "2352-8532",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

Freichel, R, Christensen, E, Mrkonja, L, de Jong, PJ, Cousijn, J, Franken, I, Yücel, M, Lee, R, Veer, IM, Albertella, L & Wiers, RW 2024, 'Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task', Addictive Behaviors Reports, vol. 19, 100534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors

T2 - The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task

AU - Freichel, René

AU - Christensen, Erynn

AU - Mrkonja, Lana

AU - de Jong, Peter J

AU - Cousijn, Janna

AU - Franken, Ingmar

AU - Yücel, Murat

AU - Lee, Rico

AU - Veer, Ilya M

AU - Albertella, Lucy

AU - Wiers, Reinout W

PY - 2024/6

Y1 - 2024/6

N2 - BACKGROUND: Attentional biases towards reward stimuli have been implicated in substance use-related problems. The value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC) task assesses such reward-related biases. The VMAC task widely used in lab studies tends to be monotonous and susceptible to low effort. We therefore tested a gamified online version of the VMAC that aimed to increase participant engagement. Our goal was to examine how VMAC is associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors, and whether this association is moderated by cognitive control.METHODS: We recruited 285 participants from an online community, including heavy alcohol users. All participants completed a novel gamified version of the VMAC task, measures of substance use and addictive behaviors (addictive-like eating behavior, problematic smartphone use), the WebExec measure of problems with executive functions, and the Stroop Adaptive Deadline Task (SDL) as a measure of cognitive control.RESULTS: The gamified VMAC task successfully identified value-modulated attentional capture effects towards high-reward stimuli. We found no significant associations between VMAC scores, problematic alcohol or cannabis use, addictive behaviors, or any moderation by a behavioral measure of cognitive control. Exploratory analyses revealed that self-reported cognitive problems were associated with more alcohol-, and cannabis-related problems, and addictive behaviors. Greater attentional capture (VMAC) was associated with more cannabis use-related problems among individuals with higher levels of self-reported cognitive problems.CONCLUSIONS: Our study is one of the first to demonstrate the utility of the gamified version of the VMAC task in capturing attentional reward biases. Self-reported problems with cognitive functions represent a key dimension associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors.

AB - BACKGROUND: Attentional biases towards reward stimuli have been implicated in substance use-related problems. The value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC) task assesses such reward-related biases. The VMAC task widely used in lab studies tends to be monotonous and susceptible to low effort. We therefore tested a gamified online version of the VMAC that aimed to increase participant engagement. Our goal was to examine how VMAC is associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors, and whether this association is moderated by cognitive control.METHODS: We recruited 285 participants from an online community, including heavy alcohol users. All participants completed a novel gamified version of the VMAC task, measures of substance use and addictive behaviors (addictive-like eating behavior, problematic smartphone use), the WebExec measure of problems with executive functions, and the Stroop Adaptive Deadline Task (SDL) as a measure of cognitive control.RESULTS: The gamified VMAC task successfully identified value-modulated attentional capture effects towards high-reward stimuli. We found no significant associations between VMAC scores, problematic alcohol or cannabis use, addictive behaviors, or any moderation by a behavioral measure of cognitive control. Exploratory analyses revealed that self-reported cognitive problems were associated with more alcohol-, and cannabis-related problems, and addictive behaviors. Greater attentional capture (VMAC) was associated with more cannabis use-related problems among individuals with higher levels of self-reported cognitive problems.CONCLUSIONS: Our study is one of the first to demonstrate the utility of the gamified version of the VMAC task in capturing attentional reward biases. Self-reported problems with cognitive functions represent a key dimension associated with substance use-related problems and addictive behaviors.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185590200&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534

DO - 10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100534

M3 - Article

C2 - 38404750

SN - 2352-8532

VL - 19

JO - Addictive Behaviors Reports

JF - Addictive Behaviors Reports

M1 - 100534

ER -

Attentional Biases and Their Association with Substance-Use-Related Problems and Addictive Behaviors: The Utility of a Gamified Value-Modulated Attentional Capture Task

Abstract

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