Outcome Devaluation as a Means of Distinguishing Habits from Goal-Directed Actions

The outcome devaluation task is a powerful method of distinguishing between goal-directed and habitual behavior by modifying the value of the instrumentally earned outcome and examining the impact on subsequent performance. Through its use, researchers have been able to characterize the neural underpinnings of goal-directed and habitual control and describe circumstances that promote either control system such as training conditions or exposure to addictive substances. This chapter provides an overview of behavioral control, how it is understood using the outcome devaluation task, and the advantages and limitations of the task itself.