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An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children
05:04

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

Published on: October 4, 2018

Reward processing in children with affective dysregulation.

Pascal-M Aggensteiner1,2, Francisca Giller3, Nathalie Holz1,2

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Central Institute of Mental Health Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University Mannheim Germany.

JCPP Advances
|July 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Children with affective dysregulation (AD) show altered neural activity during reward anticipation, not reward delivery. Reduced brain responses to anticipated rewards are linked to AD symptoms like anger and anxiety.

Keywords:
EEGemotion dysregulationirritabilityreward anticipation

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Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychology
  • Psychophysiology

Background:

  • Affective dysregulation (AD) in children involves irritability and temper outbursts.
  • Evidence suggests altered frustration processing in AD, but reward anticipation is less studied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate neural processing of reward anticipation and delivery in children with AD.
  • Examine event-related potential (ERP) components during a reward task.

Main Methods:

  • 103 children (8-12 years; 50 with AD) completed a monetary reward anticipation task.
  • Event-related potentials (ERPs), including cue-CNV, Reward Positivity, and Feedback-Related Negativity, were recorded.
  • Regression analyses assessed ERPs and AD symptom associations.

Main Results:

  • Children with AD exhibited reduced anticipatory reward processing (attenuated cue-CNV).
  • This difference was significant for monetary cues and linked to AD severity.
  • No significant differences were found in the reward delivery phase.

Conclusions:

  • Altered neural activity in AD occurs during reward anticipation, not delivery.
  • Atypical reward anticipation in AD is associated with anger, irritability, and anxiety symptoms.