Reward functioning from an attentional perspective and obsessive-compulsive symptoms-an eye-tracking study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) research increasingly points to altered reward system functioning.
• Previous studies on OCD and reward have primarily used reaction-time tasks, neglecting attentional aspects.
• No prior research has directly investigated attentional reward functioning in individuals with obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of reward-modulated attentional capture in nonclinical participants with varying levels of OC symptoms.
• To determine if individuals with high OC symptoms exhibit altered attentional responses to reward-related stimuli compared to those with low OC symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A reward-based value-modulated attentional capture task was administered to 92 nonclinical students (44 high OC, 48 low OC).
• Attentional capture by high- and low-reward signaling distractors was measured using fixation and saccade data.
• Task performance was assessed based on the likelihood of obtaining monetary rewards.

Main Results:

• Both groups performed worse with high-reward distractors versus low-reward distractors.
• The high OC group showed a significantly greater impairment from high-reward distractors, indicating heightened attentional capture.
• These findings persisted after controlling for addiction-related compulsivity and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Attentional reward functioning appears to be linked with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
• Future research and clinical approaches should consider various facets of reward functioning, including attention.
• This study highlights the importance of attentional mechanisms in the context of OC symptoms.