Examining cognitive control and reward interactions in adolescent externalizing symptoms

The effect of reward learning on inhibitory control in internet gaming disorder: Evidence from behavioral and ERP

Reward dysregulation and deficits in inhibitory control significantly contribute to the development of internet gaming disorder (IGD). While prior research demonstrates that reward history influences individuals' inhibitory control, it remains unclear whether this effect extends to individuals with IGD. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether individuals with IGD exhibit impairments in reward learning and whether prior reward learning influences their inhibitory control, using both behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measures. This study first employed a probability selection task to examine potential impairments in reward learning among individuals with IGD. Next, a stop-signal task incorporating reward- and punishment-associated stimuli was used to further investigate the behavioral and electroencephalographic effects of prior reward learning on subsequent inhibitory control. Results revealed that during the reward-learning phase, the IGD group exhibited significantly longer response times than the control group in both the learning and transfer phases. Additionally, the feedback-related negativity amplitude in the IGD group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conversely, the P3 wave amplitude induced by positive and negative feedback in the IGD group were significantly higher than in the control group. In the inhibitory control phase following reward learning, the Nogo-P3 wave amplitude in response to reward cues was significantly greater in the IGD group than in the control group. Moreover, within the IGD group, the Nogo-P3 wave amplitude evoked by reward cues was significantly larger than the amplitude evoked by loss cues. These findings suggest that reward learning is impaired in individuals with IGD and that stimuli with a prior reward history may compromise inhibitory control, potentially serving as a critical factor in addiction development in this population.

Frontostriatal Networks Undergo Functional Specialization During Adolescence that Follows a Ventral-Dorsal Gradient: Developmental Trajectories and Longitudinal Associations

Seminal studies in animal neuroscience demonstrate that frontostriatal circuits exhibit a ventral-dorsal functional gradient to integrate neural functions related to reward processing and cognitive control. Prominent neurodevelopmental models posit that heightened reward-seeking and risk-taking during adolescence result from maturational imbalances between frontostriatal neural systems underlying reward processing and cognitive control. The present study investigated whether the development of ventral (VS) and dorsal (DS) striatal resting-state connectivity (rsFC) networks along this proposed functional gradient relates to putative imbalances between reward and executive systems posited by a dual neural systems theory of adolescent development. 163 participants aged 11-25 years (54% female, 90% white) underwent resting scans at baseline and biennially thereafter, yielding 339 scans across four assessment waves. We observed developmental increases in VS rsFC with brain areas implicated in reward processing (e.g., subgenual cingulate gyrus and medial orbitofrontal cortex) and concurrent decreases with areas implicated in executive function (e.g., ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices). DS rsFC exhibited the opposite pattern. More rapid developmental increases in VS rsFC with reward areas were associated with developmental improvements in reward-based decision making, whereas increases in DS rsFC with executive function areas were associated with improved executive function, though each network exhibited some crossover in function. Collectively, these findings suggest that typical adolescent neurodevelopment is characterized by a divergence in ventral and dorsal frontostriatal connectivity that may relate to developmental improvements in affective decision-making and executive function.Significance Statement Anatomical studies in nonhuman primates demonstrate that frontostriatal circuits are essential for integration of neural functions underlying reward processing and cognition, with human neuroimaging studies linking alterations in these circuits to psychopathology. The present study characterized the developmental trajectories of frontostriatal resting state networks from childhood to young adulthood. We demonstrate that ventral and dorsal aspects of the striatum exhibit distinct age-related changes that predicted developmental improvements in reward-related decision making and executive function. These results highlight that adolescence is characterized by distinct changes in frontostriatal networks that may relate to normative increases in risk-taking. Atypical developmental trajectories of frontostriatal networks may contribute to adolescent-onset psychopathology.

Testing a Conceptual Model of Early Adversity, Neural Function, and Psychopathology: Protocol for a Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Early adversity, broadly defined as a set of negative exposures during childhood, is extremely common and increases risk for psychopathology across the life span. Previous research suggests that separate dimensions of adversity increase risk through developmental plasticity mechanisms shaping unique neurobiological pathways. Specifically, research suggests that deprivation is associated with deficits in higher order cognition, while threat is associated with atypicality in fear learning and emotion dysregulation. However, most of this research has been conducted in adolescent and adult samples, long after exposure to adversity occurs and far from periods of peak developmental plasticity.

OBJECTIVE

The Wellness Health and Life Experiences (WHALE) study examines the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms by which deprivation, threat, and unpredictability increase risk for psychopathology in early childhood (age 4-7 years) directly following periods of peak developmental plasticity. The objective of this study is to describe the study rationale and aims, the research design and procedures, and the analytical plan to test the study hypotheses.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study that examines associations between exposure to deprivation and threat and their hypothesized neurobiological mechanisms, how these neurobiological mechanisms link early adversity and psychopathology, and associations between unpredictability, reward learning, and psychopathology. The sample was a convenience sample of children (aged 4-7 years) and their families, identified through flyers, email blasts to listserves, school-based advertising, and involvement in community events. Data were collected during a home visit, a subsequent laboratory visit, and a final neuroimaging visit. Planned analyses include linear regression, path analyses, and functional magnetic resonance imaging analyses to explore the role of neural function in the association between early adversity and psychopathology.

RESULTS

Participants (N=301) have been recruited into the study, and data collection has commenced. The expected results will be available in 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study will help elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms by which early adversity increases risk for psychopathology in early childhood. This study represents the earliest test of an influential theory of biological embedding of early adversity.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/59636.

Neural Correlates of the p Factor in Adolescence: Cognitive Control With and Without Enhanced Positive Affective Demands

BACKGROUND

Recent research has aimed to characterize processes underlying general liability toward psychopathology, termed the p factor. Given previous research linking the p factor with difficulties in both executive functioning and affective regulation, the present study investigated nonaffective and positive affective inhibition in the context of a sustained attention/inhibition paradigm in adolescents exhibiting mild to severe psychopathology.

METHODS

Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected during an integrated reward conditioning and go/no-go task in 138 adolescents assigned female at birth. We modeled the p factor using hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis. Positive affective inhibition was measured by examining responses to no-go stimuli with a history of reward conditioning. We examined associations between p factor scores and neural function and behavioral performance.

RESULTS

Consistent with nonaffective executive function as a primary risk factor, p factor scores were associated with worse behavioral performance and hypoactivation in the left superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus during response initiation (go trials). The p factor scores were additionally associated with increased error-related signaling in the temporal cortex during incorrect no-go trials.

CONCLUSIONS

During adolescence, a period characterized by heightened risk for emergent psychopathology, we observed unique associations between p factor scores and neural and behavioral indices of response initiation, which relies primarily on sustained attention. These findings suggest that shared variation in mental disorder categories is characterized in part by sustained attention deficits. While we did not find evidence that the p factor was associated with inhibition in this study, this observation is consistent with our hypothesis that the p factor would be related to nonaffective control processes.

Loss and Frontal Striatal Reactivities Characterize Alcohol Use Severity and Rule-Breaking Behavior in Young Adult Drinkers

BACKGROUND

Alcohol misuse is associated with externalizing behaviors, including rule breaking. Studies have implicated altered reward processing in externalizing behaviors and alcohol misuse. Here, we investigated whether reward or punishment reactivity more significantly influenced alcohol use severity and rule-breaking behavior in young adult drinkers.

METHODS

We curated data from the Human Connectome Project and identified 181 binge (132 men) and 288 nonbinge (97 men) drinkers performing a gambling task during brain imaging. Alcohol use severity was quantified by the first principal component of principal-component analysis of all drinking measures. We analyzed the imaging data using published routines and evaluated the results at a corrected threshold. We examined the interrelationship between imaging and clinical metrics with mediation and path analyses.

RESULTS

Compared with nonbingers, bingers showed more severe rule-breaking behavior and responded significantly faster during post-loss than during post-win trials. Compared with nonbingers, bingers demonstrated greater inferior/middle frontal gyrus and cerebellum activations in loss-predominating blocks but no differences in regional responses to win-predominating blocks, relative to an interblock baseline. The right caudate body showed loss reactivity that was positively correlated with the rule-breaking score. No regional responses to wins were significantly correlated with the rule-breaking score. Mediation and path analyses demonstrated significant models with inferior/middle frontal gyrus and caudate reactivity to loss interrelating rule breaking and alcohol use severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Punishment rather than reward reactivity was associated with alcohol use severity and rule breaking in young adults. The findings highlight the roles of negative emotions in psychological models of externalizing behaviors and alcohol misuse.