Reward expectancy promotes generalised increases in attentional bias for rewarding stimuli

Abstract

Expectations of drug availability increase the magnitude of attentional biases for drug-related cues. However, it is unknown if these effects are outcome-specific, or if expectation of aspecific reinforcer produces a general transfer effect and increases attentional bias for other types of rewarding cues. In the present study, 31 social drinkers completed an attentional bias task in which attentional bias for alcohol- and chocolate-related cues was assessed while the expectation of receiving alcohol and chocolate was manipulated on a trial-by-trial basis. Participants showed attentional bias for alcohol and chocolate cues (relative to neutral cues) overall. Importantly, these effects were magnified when participants expected to receive alcohol and chocolate, but effects were not outcome-specific: the expectation of receiving either alcohol or chocolate increased attentional bias for both alcohol and chocolate cues. Results suggest that anticipation of reward produces a general rather than an outcome-specific enhancement of attentional bias for reward-related stimuli. Funded by a research grant from Alcohol Research UK.