Background:The stomach-derived hormone ghrelin stimulates appetite, but the ghrelin receptor is also expressed in brain circuits involved in motivation and reward. We examined ghrelin effects on decision making beyond food or drug rewards, using monetary outcomes.Methods: Thirty participants (50% females) underwent two fMRI scans, in randomized counterbalanced order, while receiving intravenous ghrelin or saline.Results: Striatal representations of reward anticipation were unaffected by ghrelin, while activity during anticipation of losses was attenuated. Temporal discounting rates of monetary rewards were lower overall in the ghrelin condition, an effect driven by women. Discounting rates were inversely correlated with neural activity in a large cluster within the left parietal lobule that included the angular gyrus. Activity in an overlapping cluster was related to behavioral choices, and was suppressed by ghrelin.
Conclusion:This is to our knowledge the first human study to extend the understanding of ghrelin's significance beyond the canonical feeding domain or in relation to addictive substances. Contrary to our hypothesis, we find that ghrelin does not affect sensitivity to monetary reward anticipation, but rather results in attenuated loss aversion and lower discounting rates for these rewards. Ghrelin may cause a motivational shift toward caloric rewards rather than globally promoting the value of rewards.
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