Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
05:04
An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children
Published on: October 4, 2018
7.1K
Reward Processing in Children With Psychotic-Like Experiences.
Jasmine Harju-Seppänen1,2, Haritz Irizar2,3, Elvira Bramon2
1Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Schizophrenia Bulletin Open
|January 17, 2022
Summary
Children with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) do not show altered striatal reward processing. This finding suggests a developmental delay model may explain PLEs in youth, rather than immediate reward pathway dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Striatal reward pathway alterations are linked to psychosis in adults.
- These changes are hypothesized to stem from childhood adversity and genetic risk, leading to stress hyper-responsivity.
- Understanding these alterations in children with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) is crucial for explaining childhood hallucinations and delusions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between PLEs and reward-related activation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in children.
- To determine if PLEs and associated distress correlate with altered striatal reward processing during anticipation and outcome phases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional MRI data from 6718 children (aged 9-10) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
- Employed the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task to assess reward processing.
- Applied mixed-effects linear regression models, controlling for demographic and clinical variables.
Main Results:
- No reliable association was found between PLEs and alterations in striatal reward processing during anticipation or outcome.
- This suggests that early-appearing PLEs may not be directly linked to immediate striatal reward pathway dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support a direct link between PLEs and altered striatal reward processing in 9-10-year-old children.
- A developmental delay model is proposed as a potential explanation for the emergence of PLEs at this developmental stage.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Primary and Secondary Reinforcers
456
In psychology, reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments involving rats in what is known as a Skinner box. The rats learned to press a lever to receive food, a primary reinforcer that fulfilled their innate need for nourishment.
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...
456
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
151
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
151
01:28Behaviorism
3.3K
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
3.3K
01:26Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
151
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
151
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
248
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
248
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
236
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
236