Effective connectivity modulations related to win and loss outcomes

The human cerebellum in reward anticipation and reward outcome processing: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

The cerebellum generates internal prediction models and actively compares anticipated and actual outcomes in order to reach a desired end state. In this process, reward can serve as a reinforcer that shapes internal prediction models, enabling context-appropriate behavior. While the involvement of the cerebellum in reward processing has been established in animals, there is no detailed account of which cerebellar regions are involved in reward anticipation and reward outcome processing in humans. To this end, an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies was performed to investigate cerebellar functional activity patterns associated with reward anticipation and reward outcome processing in healthy adults. Results showed that reward anticipation (k=31) was associated with regional activity in the bilateral anterior lobe, bilateral lobule VI, left Crus I and the posterior vermis, while reward outcome (k=16) was associated with regional activity in the declive and left lobule VI. The findings of this meta-analysis show distinct involvement of the cerebellum in reward anticipation and reward outcome processing as part of a predictive coding routine.

Altered effective connectivity of the reward network during an incentive-processing task in adults with alcohol use disorder

BACKGROUND

Abnormalities of reward sensitivity and impulsivity are known to be correlated with each other and alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk, but the underlying aberrant neural circuitry involved is not clearly defined. We sought to extend the current knowledge of AUD pathophysiology by studying incentive processing in persons with AUD using functional neuroimaging data.

METHODS

We utilized functional MRI data from the Human Connectome Project Database obtained during performance of a number-guessing incentive-processing task with win, loss, and neutral feedback conditions in 78 participants with either DSM-IV alcohol abuse or dependence (combined as the AUD group) and 78 age- and sex-matched control (CON) participants. Within a network consisting of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), insula, ventral striatum, and dorsal striatum (DS) in the right hemisphere, we performed dynamic causal modeling analysis to test group-level differences (AUD vs. CON) in effective directional connectivity (EC) as modulated by "win" and "loss" conditions. We used linear regression analyses to characterize the relations between each EC outcome and measures of cumulative alcohol exposure and impulsivity.

RESULTS

During wins, AUD participants had lower ECs from ACC to the other four nodes, greater ECs from insula to the other four nodes, greater ECs from DLPFC to the other four nodes, and greater DS to DS self-connection EC than CON participants. In the total sample, EC from the insula to the DLPFC (insula → DLPFC) during wins was positively correlated with both impulsivity (as measured by the delay-discounting task) and cumulative alcohol exposure. The DS to DS self-connection EC during wins was positively correlated with impulsivity. Many of the altered ECs from the ACC and insula to other nodes were correlated with cumulative alcohol exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with AUD have disrupted EC in both instrumentally driven and automatized corticostriatal reward circuits during non-alcohol reward feedback. These results point to disrupted corticostriatal EC in both "top-down" and "bottom-up" pathways among individuals with AUD.

Gray matter volumetric correlates of behavioral activation and inhibition system traits in children: An exploratory voxel-based morphometry study of the ABCD project data

Approach and avoidance represent two fundamental behavioral traits that develop early in life. Previous studies have examined the neural correlates of approach and avoidance traits in adults and adolescents. Here, using the data set of the Adolescent Brain Cognition Development project, we investigated the structural cerebral bases of behavioral activation system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) in children. We employed voxel-based morphometry to examine how gray matter volumes (GMV) related specifically to BAS and BIS traits in 11,542 children (5491 girls, age 9-10 years) with 648 and 2697 identified as monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins/siblings (DZ), respectively. After accounting for the BIS score, higher BAS scores (residuals) were positively correlated with the GMV of the ventral striatum (VS), and the correlation was stronger in MZ than in DZ and unrelated children, with a heritability (h²) of 0.8463. Higher BAS scores were negatively correlated with the GMV of bilateral visual, lateral orbitofrontal, temporal, and inferior frontal cortex, as well as the precuneus. Higher BIS (after accounting for BAS) scores were negatively correlated with the GMVs of the ventral caudate and bilateral putamen/pallidum, hypothalamus, and right anterior insula, and the correlation was stronger in MZ than in DZ and unrelated children, with a heritability of 0.8848. A cluster in the VS showed positive and negative correlation with the BAS and BIS scores, respectively. These findings suggest shared and distinct cerebral volumetric bases of the BAS and BIS traits in children. Whereas both traits have a strong genetic basis, the BAS relative to BIS appears to be more amenable to environmental influences. These findings add to the literature of developmental neuroscience and may help identify genetic risk factors of externalizing and internalizing psychopathology.

Males are more sensitive to reward and less sensitive to loss than females among people with internet gaming disorder: fMRI evidence from a card-guessing task

BACKGROUND

Many studies have found an interesting issue in the Internet gaming disorder (IGD): males are always observed to be the majority. However, there are little research to exploring the differences in the neural mechanisms between males and females in decision-making process among people with IGD. Therefore, explore the reward/loss processing between different gender with IGD could help in understanding the underlying neural mechanism of IGD.

METHODS

Data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were collected from 111 subjects (IGD: 29 males, 25 females; recreational internet game user (RGU): 36 males, 21 females) while they were performing a card-guessing task. We collected and compared their brain features when facing the win and loss conditions in different groups.

RESULTS

For winning conditions, IGD group showed hypoactivity in the lingual gyrus than RGU group, male players showed hyperactivity in the left caudate nucleus, bilateral cingulate gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), right precuneus and inferior parietal lobule relative to the females. And significant sex-by-group interactions results showed higher brain activities in the thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus and lower brain activities in Inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) were observed in males with IGD than females. For losing conditions, IGD group showed hypoactivity in the left lingual gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) compared to the RGU group, male players showed hyperactive left caudate nucleus and hypoactive right middle occipital gyrus relative to females. And significant sex-by-group interactions results showed that compared to females with IGD, males with IGD showed decreased brain activities in the IFG and lingual gyrus.

CONCLUSIONS

First, there appeared to be no difference in reward processing between the IGD and RGU group, but IGD showed less sensitivity to loss. Secondly, male players showed more sensitivity to rewards and less sensitivity to losses. Last but not least, males and females showed opposite activation patterns in IGD degree and rewards/losses processing. And male IGD subjects are more sensitive to reward and less sensitive to loss than females, which might be the reason for the gender different rates on IGD.