Hyperthymic temperament predicts neural responsiveness for monetary reward.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Temperament Research

Background:

• Hyperthymic temperament is associated with cheerfulness and may protect against depressive symptoms.
• Diminished reward responsiveness in depression is linked to hyperthymic temperament.
• Neurobiological underpinnings of hyperthymic temperament are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the relationship between hyperthymic temperament and neural responsiveness to monetary rewards.
• Explore brain regions modulated by hyperthymic temperament during reward anticipation.

Main Methods:

• Healthy participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a monetary incentive delay task.
• Examined brain activity in reward system regions in relation to hyperthymic temperament scores.

Main Results:

• Reward anticipation activated brain reward system areas.
• Hyperthymic temperament positively predicted activation in the left thalamus and left putamen.
• Ventral striatum and right insula activation were not modulated by hyperthymic temperament.

Conclusions:

• A neurobiological basis for the antidepressant effect of hyperthymic temperament was identified within the reward system.
• Findings suggest hyperthymic temperament influences attentional, motor, or behavioral selection related to reward, not value representation.