Mapping sign-tracking and goal-tracking onto human behaviors

Abstract

As evidenced through classic Pavlovian learning mechanisms, environmental cues can become incentivized and influence behavior. These stimulus-outcome associations are relevant in everyday life but may be particularly important for the development of impulse control disorders including addiction. Rodent studies have elucidated specific learning profiles termed 'sign-tracking' and 'goal-tracking' which map onto individual differences in impulsivity and other behaviors associated with impulse control disorders' etiology, course, and relapse. Whereas goal-trackers are biased toward the outcome, sign-trackers fixate on features that are associated with but not necessary for achieving an outcome; a pattern of behavior that often leads to escalation of reward-seeking that can be maladaptive. The vast majority of the sign- and goal-tracking research has been conducted using rodent models and very few have bridged this concept into the domain of human behavior. In this review, we discuss the attributes of sign- and goal-tracking profiles, how these are manifested neurobiologically, and how these distinct learning styles could be an important tool for clinical interventions in human addiction.

Keywords: Addictive behavior; Goal-tracking; Humans; Impulse control disorders; Rodents; Sign-tracking.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Rodent Sign- and Goal-Trackers. An example of the rodent PCA task. (a) A sign-tracking conditioned response directed toward the CS. (b) A goal-tracking conditioned response directed toward the US.

Fig. 2.

Human Sign- and Goal-Tracking Apparatus. One methodological example of the rodent PCA task adapted for use in humans. Lever (conditioned stimulus, CS) response box shown on the left. Food cup (unconditioned stimulus, US) reward box shown on the right. Adapted with permission from Joyner, M. A., Gearhardt, A. N., & Flagel, S. B. (2018). A translational model to assess sign-tracking and goal-tracking behavior in children. Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 43, No. 1, 228–229. Published by Springer Nature.