Addiction and embodiment

Abstract

Recent experiments have shown that when drug--dependent individuals are confronted with drug--related cues, they exhibit an automatically activated tendency to approach these cues (i.e., drug approach bias). The strength of the drug approach bias has been associated with clinically relevant measures, such as increased drug craving and relapse, as well as activations in brain reward areas. Moreover, retraining the approach bias by means of Cognitive Bias Modification has been demonstrated to decrease relapse rates in alcohol--dependent patients and to reduce alcohol cue--evoked limbic activity. Here, we review empirical and theoretical literature on the drug approach bias and explore two distinct models of how the drug approach bias may be embodied. First, we consider the "biological meaning" hypothesis, which grounds the automatic approach bias in the natural meaning of the body. Second, we consider the "sensorimotor hypothesis," which appeals to the specific sensorimotor loops involved in the instantiation of addictive behaviors as the basis of the automatic approach bias. In order to differentiate between the adequacies of these competing explanations, we present specific, predictions that each model should make.

Imaginal Retraining Reduces Cigarette Smoking: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Imaginal retraining is a variant of classical ABM that aims to overcome some of the shortcomings of classical ABM (e.g., the requirement of a computer device). Following a simple negative mood induction designed to foster embodiment, the alleged primary mechanism of ABM [28], participants are instructed to throw (actual behavior/movement) the imagined addictive substance away (e.g., pack of cigarettes, can of beer, high-calorie food) or addiction-related objects (e.g., a slot machine). This sequence corresponds to the push movement in conven-Eur Addict Res 2020;26:355-364 DOI: 10.1159/000509823 tional ABM.…”

“…This sequence corresponds to the push movement in conven-Eur Addict Res 2020;26:355-364 DOI: 10.1159/000509823 tional ABM. For the opposite sequence, the user engages in a positive mood induction before he or she imagines drinking or eating a tasty but non-addictive beverage or food while coupling this with other positive images to enhance the effects of embodiment (for a discussion of different theories on embodiment [28]). The concept of embodiment is actively conveyed to participants as a mode of action in the imaginal program, which may raise selfefficacy and thus ignite other more explicit psychological processes beyond bodily driven disgust.…”

Imaginal retraining decreases craving for high-calorie food in overweight and obese women: A randomized controlled trial

“…The technique consists of two phases that are easy for the participants to execute. Following a simple negative mood induction to enhance embodiment (for details, see the “Methods” section), the alleged primary mechanism of ABM 25 , in the averse sequence participants throw (the behavior/movement is actually performed) the imagined high-calorie food away from them. This sequence corresponds to the push movement in conventional ABM.…”

“…This sequence corresponds to the push movement in conventional ABM. For the opposite sequence, the user engages in a positive mood induction (see the “Methods” section for details) before imagining eating or drinking a delicious but healthy, low-calorie beverage, or food, while coupling this with other positive sensations to enhance the effects of embodiment 25 . This sequence corresponds to the pull movement in conventional ABM.…”

Let Me Make You Happy, And I’ll Tell You How you look around: Using an Approach-Avoidance Task as an Embodied Emotion Prime in a Free-Viewing Task

“…In particular, bodily movements are specific to the kind of body we have, and to the environment, we interact with, and are thus naturally meaningful. Similarly, the embodied approach to cognition tries to explain the approach-avoidance behavior (35). Importantly for our study, affective states are also considered within the embodied cognition framework.…”