Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
Project Title: Behavioral Chains and Self-Control: Investigating the Role of Schedule-Induced Behaviors in a Delay Discounting Task Under THC Chronic Exposure
Sergio Ramos is a PhD candidate at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) in Madrid, Spain. His doctoral research focuses on the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, specifically on the basic processes that underlie impulsive choice —understood as a preference for immediate small rewards over large but delayed ones (Vandelvert et al., 2016). Alongside his experimental work, Sergio has also been developing expertise in the applied field focusing on addictions, where impulsive choice plays a crucial role. In such cases, the consumption of certain drugs alters the sensitivity to the delay, thereby reducing the control of delayed rewards on current choices. By investigating the fundamental mechanisms of decision-making and identifying the factors that enhance self-control — as well as the mechanisms through which these factors exert their influence — his work aims to make a significant contribution to the field of behavior analysis, both at the experimental and applied levels.
Sergio’s current research, supported by the 2025 SABA Innovative Student Research Grant, investigates strategies to reduce impulsive choice in chronic cannabis users. The project focuses on the development of Schedule-Induced Behaviors during delays to larger, delayed rewards, in contexts where cannabis impairs reinforcer discrimination. These behaviors are expected to reduce impulsivity by functioning as an immediate conditioned reinforcement of making self-controlled choice and mitigating delay-based devaluation through the formation of behavioral chains. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the behavioral mechanisms underlying impulsive choice and their potential application in intervention strategies.
Although some behavioral effects of cannabis improve after cessation, growing evidence shows that others—such as increased impulsive choice—can persist over time. These long-lasting effects of THC may compromise therapeutic progress and increase the risk of relapse. Sergio’s research addresses the need to reduce such short-term consequences, particularly during the early stages of abstinence, when new behavioral patterns must be established to support treatment engagement.
Receiving this grant is not only an academic milestone for Sergio, but also a meaningful step in his commitment to using behavioral science to better understand—and ultimately improve—the lives of those affected by addictions.
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