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Dinu LM, Georgescu AL, Singh SN, Byrom NC, Overton PG, Singer BF, Dommett EJ. Sign-tracking and goal-tracking in humans: Utilising eye-tracking in clinical and non-clinical populations. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114846. [PMID: 38184207 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Pavlovian conditioning, learned behaviour varies according to the perceived value of environmental cues. For goal-trackers (GT), the cue merely predicts a reward, whilst for sign-trackers (ST), the cue holds incentive value. The sign-tracking/goal-tracking model is well-validated in animals, but translational work is lacking. Despite the model's relevance to several conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we are unaware of any studies that have examined the model in clinical populations. METHODS The current study used an eye-tracking Pavlovian conditioning paradigm to identify ST and GT in non-clinical (N = 54) and ADHD (N = 57) participants. Eye movements were recorded whilst performing the task. Dwell time was measured for two areas of interest: sign (i.e., cue) and goal (i.e., reward), and an eye-gaze index (EGI) was computed based on the dwell time sign-to-goal ratio. Higher EGI values indicate sign-tracking behaviour. ST and GT were determined using median and tertiary split approaches in both samples. RESULTS Despite greater propensity for sign-tracking in those with ADHD, there was no significant difference between groups. The oculomotor conditioned response was reward-specific (CS+) and present, at least partly, from the start of the task indicating dispositional and learned components. There were no differences in externalising behaviours between ST and GT for either sample. CONCLUSIONS Sign-tracking is associated with CS+ trials only. There may be both dispositional and learned components to sign-tracking, potentially more common in those with ADHD. This holds translational potential for understanding individual differences in reward-learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa-Maria Dinu
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Alexandra-Livia Georgescu
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Samriddhi N Singh
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Nicola C Byrom
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Paul G Overton
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Cathedral Court, Sheffield S1 2LT, UK
| | - Bryan F Singer
- School of Psychology, Sussex Addiction Research & Intervention Centre, Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Eleanor J Dommett
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
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Tzoumakis S, Dean K, Green MJ, Zheng C, Kariuki M, Harris F, Carr VJ, Laurens KR. The impact of parental offending on offspring aggression in early childhood: a population-based record linkage study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2017; 52:445-455. [PMID: 28204921 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-017-1347-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the impact of parental criminal offending, both paternal and maternal, on offspring aggression at age 5 years, while also considering key risk factors, including parental mental illness, child's sex, and socioeconomic disadvantage. METHODS The sample comprised 69,116 children, with linked parental information, from the New South Wales Child Development Study, a population-based multi-agency, multi-generational record linkage study that combines information from a teacher-reported cross-sectional survey of early childhood development at age 5 years (the 2009 Australian Early Development Census; AEDC) with data obtained via administrative records from multiple sources (e.g., health, crime, education, and welfare). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the effects of maternal and paternal criminal court appearances (frequency and type of offending), and mental health service contacts, on offspring aggression measured in the AEDC. RESULTS Having a parent with a history of offending was significantly associated with high levels of offspring aggression in early childhood. The strength of association was greatest when parents were involved in frequent (≥6 offences: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] range = 1.55-1.73) and violent (aOR range = 1.49-1.63) offending. Both maternal and paternal offending remained significant predictors of offspring aggression after accounting for parental mental illness, and associations were similar in magnitude for maternal and paternal offending histories. CONCLUSIONS Parental history of severe criminal offending increased the risk of high levels of aggression in offspring during early childhood, highlighting the need for intervention with families during this key developmental period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy Tzoumakis
- School of Social Sciences, UNSW Australia, UNSW Australia Kensington Campus, Room G21, Morven Brown Building, Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia. .,School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia. .,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Kimberlie Dean
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Maina Kariuki
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Felicity Harris
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristin R Laurens
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
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