Neuroeconomics and the Study of Addiction Biological Psychiatry, 05/09/2012

Monterosso J et al. – Neuroeconomics parameterizes distinct features of Valuation, going beyond the general construct of “reward sensitivity” widely used in addiction research. The authors argue that its modeling refinements might facilitate the identification of neural substrates that contribute to addiction. The authors highlight two areas of neuroeconomics that have been particularly productive. The first is research on neural correlates of delay discounting. The second is work that models how Value is learned as a function of “prediction–error” signaling. Although both areas are part of the neuroeconomic program, delay discounting research grows directly out of behavioral economics, whereas prediction–error work is grounded in models of learning.