SFB 940: Volition and Cognitive Control: Mechanisms, Modulators and Dysfunctions

本研究的目的是阐明目标导向行为的意志控制的认知和神经机制，并研究自我控制障碍。对自己的行为施加意志控制的能力是个人自主的先决条件，也是我们的大脑赋予我们的最令人印象深刻但又最不为人所知的能力之一。相反，意志自我控制的缺陷是许多有害行为的特征，如不健康的饮食习惯、物质使用和行为成瘾，这些行为对个人和巨大的社会成本都有巨大的不良后果。因此，CRC不仅解决了心理和神经科学基础研究的主要科学挑战之一，而且也是一个具有高度社会相关性的主题。我们的研究计划基于一个综合的理论框架，根据该框架，意志控制依赖于多个神经认知系统之间的动态相互作用。基于这个框架，三个项目组处理以下关键问题。(一)机制。哪些认知机制和神经系统是目标导向行为的意志控制、行为对目标和环境变化的灵活适应、以及发挥自我控制能力（即，抑制冲动反应和短暂欲望以支持长期目标）的基础？(B)调节器。意志控制过程是如何被动机因素、人格特征、压力和相关的神经递质系统调节的，这些系统在整个生命周期中是如何变化的？(C)障碍。精神障碍（如物质使用障碍、行为成瘾、神经性厌食症和强迫症）中意志控制受损的潜在机制是什么？CRC整合了广泛的方法，从实验和生物心理学，认知计算，社会神经科学，以及临床心理学，精神病学和发育神经科学。基于以前资助期的丰富的新实证发现和理论见解，在新的资助期，我们将特别强调跨越三个项目组的三个目标：(i)整合迄今为止被忽视的社会认知过程在意志控制中的作用；（ii）利用新技术弥合实验室实验与现实生活行为评估之间的差距；（三）认知控制计算模型的发展。因此，我们期望CRC为改善自我控制障碍的预防和治疗奠定基础（与CRC/TRR 265合作），促进认知控制的见解转移到人机交互领域（与卓越集群CeTI合作），并为自主，理性和责任的哲学和社会话语设定新的推动力。

The aim of the CRC is to elucidate cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the volitional control of goa-directed action as well as to investigate impairments of self-control. The ability to exert volitional control over one’s actions is a precondition for personal autonomy and one of the most impressive yet least under-stood capacities our brains endow us with. Conversely, impairments of volitional self-control are a charac-teristic of many harmful behaviors such as unhealthy eating habits, substance use, and behavioral addic-tions, which are associated with massive adverse consequences for individuals and great societal costs. The CRC thus addresses not only one of the major scientific challenges for basic research in psychological and neuroscience, but also a topic of high social relevance. Our research program rests on an integrative theoretical framework, according to which volitional control rests on dynamic interactions between multiple neurocognitive systems. Based on this framework, the three project groups address the following key ques-tions.(A) Mechanisms. Which cognitive mechanisms and neural systems underlie the volitional control of goal-directed actions, the flexible adaptation of behavior to changing goals and environments, and the ability to exert self-control (i.e., to inhibit impulsive responses and transient desires in favor of long-term goals)? (B) Modulators. How are volitional control processes modulated by motivational factors, personality traits, stress, and associated neurotransmitter systems, and how do these systems change across the lifespan? (C) Dysfunctions. What are underlying mechanisms of impaired volitional control in mental disorders such as substance use disorders, behavioral addictions, anorexia nervosa, and compulsivity?The CRC integrates a wide range of methods from experimental and biological psychology, cognitive com-putational, and social neuroscience, as well as clinical psychology, psychiatry, and developmental neuro-science. Based on a rich set of new empirical findings and theoretical insights from previous funding peri-ods, in the new funding period we will put particular emphasis on three aims that cut across the three project groups: (i) the integration of the hitherto neglected role of social-cognitive processes in volitional control; (ii) the use fo novel technologies to bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and assessments of real-life behavior; and (iii) the development of computational models of cognitive control. Thereby, we expect the CRC to lay foundations for improved prevention and treatment of self-control impairments (in coopera-tion with the CRC/TRR 265), to promote the transfer of insights into cognitive control into the field of man-machine-interaction (in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence CeTI), as well as to set new impulses for philosophical and societal discourses on autonomy, rationality, and responsibility.