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Differential mesolimbic and prefrontal alterations during reward anticipation and consummation in positive and

Chao Yan1, Yi Wang2, Li Su3

  • 1Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging
|July 16, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Neural differences in reward processing exist between positive and negative schizotypy dimensions. Negative schizotypy shows reduced brain activity in reward areas, while positive schizotypy shows increased prefrontal activity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Schizotypy is linked to anhedonia, but its neural basis remains unclear.
  • Previous research on neural substrates of anhedonia in schizotypy has yielded inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms of reward anticipation and consummation in positive schizotypy (PS) and negative schizotypy (NS) using functional MRI.
  • To compare brain activity between individuals with schizotypy and healthy controls during reward processing.

Main Methods:

  • Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity in 33 individuals with schizotypy (18 PS, 15 NS) and 22 healthy controls.
  • The Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task was employed to assess neural responses during reward anticipation and consummation.
  • Statistical analyses included two-sample T tests with Monte Carlo Simulation correction for multiple comparisons.

Main Results:

  • No significant overall differences in brain activity were found between the schizotypy group and controls during anticipation or consummation.
  • Negative schizotypy (NS) individuals exhibited reduced activity in the left amygdala and left putamen during consummation compared to controls.
  • NS individuals showed weaker activation in the left ventral striatum during anticipation, while PS individuals displayed enhanced right ventral lateral prefrontal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Different dimensions of schizotypy are associated with distinct neural dysfunctions in reward processing.
  • Negative schizotypy may involve hypoactivation in reward-related brain regions during anticipation and consummation.
  • Positive schizotypy might be characterized by altered prefrontal cortex activity during reward anticipation.
Keywords:
Negative schizotypyPositive schizotypyReward anticipationReward consummationfMRI

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