Modification of Goal-directed and Habitual Behavior in Addiction

In this study, the investigators aim to assess the imbalance between goal‐directed and habitual behavior, its neural basis and how it can be differentially modified in treatment‐seeking smokers, using two training interventions. The first intervention is cognitive remediation treatment (CRT), also known as cognitive enhancement therapy, focusing on improving inhibitory control and executive functions. The second intervention, a computer‐based habit‐modifying training focusing on implicit drug seeking ("implicit computer‐based habit‐modifying training", ICHT) uses a conditioning approach through implicit priming and contextual modulation. Indicators of the imbalance will be examined with respect to reward devaluation, cue reactivity and a pavlovian instrumental transfer (PIT) paradigm. The investigators hypothesize that both interventions change the balance between goal‐directed and habitual behavior but by different mechanisms. Whereas CRT should directly increase cognitive control, in contrast, ICHT should affect the early processing and the emotional valence of smoking and smoking cues.