PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tricia X.F. Seow
AU  - Redmond O’Connell
AU  - Claire M. Gillan
TI  - Model-based learning deficits in compulsivity are linked to faulty representations of task structure
AID  - 10.1101/2020.06.11.147447
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.06.11.147447
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/12/2020.06.11.147447.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/12/2020.06.11.147447.full
AB  - Individuals with higher levels of compulsivity exhibit poorer performance on tasks that require model-based planning but the underlying causes have yet to be established. Here, we sought to determine whether these deficits stem from impoverished action-outcome relational knowledge (i.e. issues building an accurate model of the world) and/or an inability to translate models into action. 192 participants performed a two-step reinforcement learning task with concurrent EEG recordings. We found that representations of task-relevant action-outcome associations reflected in reaction time and parietal-occipital alpha-band power were stronger in individuals whose decisions were more model-based, and critically, were weaker in those high in compulsivity. At the time of choice, mid-frontal theta power, a general marker of cognitive control, was also negatively associated with compulsivity, but not model-based planning. These data suggest that model-based planning deficits in compulsive individuals may arise from failures in building an accurate model of the world.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.