Neural Connectivity Underlying Reward and Emotion-Related Processing: Evidence From a Large-Scale Network Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Network Neuroscience

Background:

• Neuroimaging reveals insights into reward and emotion processing.
• Neural connection topology for these processes remains unclear.
• How functional connectivity supports prioritized effects in decision-making needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate shared neural connection topology in reward and emotion processing.
• To explore changes in intrinsic brain functional connectivity during these processes.
• To understand how these networks support prioritized effects in decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Large-scale neural network analysis approach.
• Application to two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets.
• Participants performed controlled reward value or emotion associative matching tasks.

Main Results:

• Distinct topological structures engaged by the Default Mode Network, Frontoparietal, Dorsal Attention, and Salience networks.
• These networks support prioritized effects of reward, positive, and negative emotion processing.
• Identified specific connection properties crucial for brain responses to emotional and reward stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Reward and emotion processing involve distinct network interactions.
• Insights into these connections are vital for understanding brain responses to stimuli.
• Linking reward/emotion processing to emotional regulation is important for mental health and behavior regulation.