Scientific article
English

Neural reward processing is modulated by approach- and avoidance-related personality traits

Published inNeuroImage, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 1868-1874
Publication date2010
Abstract

The neural processing of reward can be differentiated into two sub-components with different functions, "wanting" (i.e., the expectation of a reward which includes appetitive and motivational components) and "liking" (i.e., the hedonic impact experienced during the receipt of a reward), involving distinct neural systems. We hypothesize that variability in neural reward processing previously observed in healthy subjects could reflect inter-individual differences in personality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how the neural processing during expectation and reception of a reward depends on interpersonal differences in reward sensitivity, more specifically the tendency to approach vs. avoid reward-related situations. We employed event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging during a monetary incentive delay task. Subjects with a high approach motivation showed more activation of the Ventral Striatum (VS) during the receipt of a reward, and more medial orbitofrontal activity during both the receipt and omission of a reward. Subjects with a high behavioral inhibition showed less activation in the VS during the receipt of a reward. These findings indicate that the tendency to approach or avoid reward-related situations exhibits a distinct relation with neural reward processing. Specifically, subjects with high behavioral approach appear to be sensitive mainly to positive outcomes and to a lesser extent to the omissions of rewards, whereas subjects with low behavioral approach as well as those with a high inhibition tendency display a blunted response to rewards.

Keywords
  • Brain/physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cues
  • Executive Function/physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Personality/physiology
  • Personality Tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Reaction Time
  • Reward
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Young Adult
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Citation (ISO format)
SIMON, Joe J et al. Neural reward processing is modulated by approach- and avoidance-related personality traits. In: NeuroImage, 2010, vol. 49, n° 2, p. 1868–1874. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.09.016
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Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1053-8119
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