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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

Published on: October 4, 2018

Increased default mode network activity in socially anxious individuals during reward processing.

Erin L Maresh¹, Joseph P Allen¹, James A Coan¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 314 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.

Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders

|July 31, 2014

Summary

Socially anxious individuals show increased default mode network activity during reward anticipation, indicating heightened self-focused attention. They also exhibit reduced ventral striatum activity when anticipating potential monetary losses.

Keywords:

Anticipation Consumption Default mode network Punishment Reward Social anxiety fMRI

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An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

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Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

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Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

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Published on: July 19, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Affective Science

Background:

Social anxiety is linked to altered negative and positive affect.
Neural underpinnings of these affective changes, especially with non-social stimuli, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate neural responses to non-social incentives in socially anxious individuals.
Examine the association between social anxiety and brain activity during reward anticipation and consumption.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in 84 participants.
A monetary incentive delay (MID) task assessed responses to monetary gains and losses.
Longitudinal social anxiety levels (approx. 7 years) were correlated with brain activity.

Main Results:

Social anxiety did not affect task performance (hit rates, reaction times).
Contrary to hypotheses, no blunted positive affect (ventral striatum, MPFC activity) was observed for gains.
Social anxiety positively correlated with default mode network activity during gain anticipation and receipt.
Social anxiety negatively correlated with ventral striatum activity during loss anticipation.

Conclusions:

Socially anxious individuals may exhibit increased default mode network activity during reward processing, suggesting heightened self-focused attention.
Social anxiety is associated with reduced ventral striatum reactivity when anticipating potential losses.