In vivo associations between anticipatory and consummatory reward responsiveness: A cross lagged panel analysis

Reward system functioning involves a complex set of processes, including motivation to pursue rewards, reward salience, and hedonic capacity. Impairments in these processes are implicated in various forms of psychopathology. Among several temporal elements within reward processing, anticipatory reward responsiveness (ARR) refers to the anticipation of an expected reward (i.e., wanting) and consummatory reward responsiveness (CRR) involves response to an experienced reward (i.e., liking). Conceptually, it may be that one's ability to anticipate future reward would facilitate initial response to reward receipt. Yet, little research has examined temporal associations between these two distinct components of reward processing over time. The current study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to explore the relationship between ARR and CRR in response to rewarding daily activities. 544 undergraduate students completed baseline questionnaires assessing demographic information and depressive symptoms. Participants then completed EMA questionnaires assessing ARR and CRR three times per day for seven days. Multilevel modeling with random intercepts and slopes using maximum likelihood (ML) estimation was conducted to examine lagged associations between average ARR and CRR across timepoints. ARR was found to predict subsequent CRR, and a bidirectional relationship was found between CRR and future ARR. Only associations between ARR and subsequent CRR held when controlling for anhedonia symptoms. Our findings support temporal associations between two distinct aspects of reward responsiveness and point to ARR as a key treatment target with potential downstream impacts on future hedonic capacity in patients with blunted reward responding.