Human sign-tracking and its relationship with attentional biases for alcohol

Abstract

Background Pavlovian sign- and goal-tracking have been proposed as a translational framework for understanding individual vulnerability to addiction. In humans, eye‑movement–based Pavlovian Conditioned Approach (PCA) tasks and alcohol‑related attentional bias paradigms may capture complementary aspects of cue‑driven behavior, yet their relationship remains underexplored. Objectives This study aimed (1) to test the hypothesized positive association between sign-tracking tendencies and alcohol-related attentional bias, and (2) further evaluate a computerized PCA paradigm for identifying human sign‑ versus goal‑tracking tendencies by attempting to replicate prior evidence linking sign-tracking to higher alcohol use. Methods The main study included 159 healthy volunteers. Eye‑movement indices of sign‑ and goal‑oriented attention were collected, and latent profile analysis was used to derive PCA behavioral profiles. Alcohol‑related attentional bias was assessed using a free‑viewing task, while self‑report questionnaires measured alcohol consumption and personality traits. In an additional side experiment (n = 138), a gaze‑contingent, interactable lever was implemented as the conditioned stimulus (CS) to more closely approximate animal PCA procedures. Due to inconclusive outcomes, results from this experiment are reported in the supporting information. Results Sign-trackers showed a modest tendency toward greater alcohol-related attentional bias than intermediate participants, although not compared with goal-trackers. No robust evidence emerged for differences in alcohol consumption across PCA profiles. Conclusions The findings provide preliminary support for a positive association between sign-tracking tendencies and alcohol-related attentional bias, consistent with theoretical predictions, although the effect was small and should be interpreted cautiously. In contrast to previous reports, sign-tracking was unrelated to alcohol consumption. The attenuated effects likely reflect methodological constraints, including low reward salience and the passive nature of the task (e.g., fictitious token reinforcement). Further refinement of human PCA paradigms (particularly regarding conditioned stimulus properties, reward type, and participant engagement) is needed to clarify the boundary conditions of sign- and goal-tracking and strengthen their translational validity.