Acute stress reduces reward responsiveness: implications for depression

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Stress is a significant risk factor for depression.
• Stress is associated with anhedonia and altered reward circuitry.
• Preclinical models link stress to dysfunctional reward processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if acute stress reduces reward responsiveness in humans.
• To examine the impact of stress on the ability to modulate behavior based on reward history.

Main Methods:

• A signal-detection task with differential reinforcement was used.
• Eighty female participants completed the task under stress (threat-of-shock or negative feedback) and no-stress conditions.

Main Results:

• Stress increased negative affect and anxiety.
• Acute stress, particularly threat-of-shock, impaired reward responsiveness.
• Anhedonia predicted stress-induced hedonic deficits, independent of anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Acute stress diminishes reward responsiveness, especially in individuals with anhedonic traits.
• Stress-induced hedonic deficits represent a potential mechanism connecting stress to depression.