Response Perseveration and Ventral Prefrontal Sensitivity to Reward and Punishment in Male Problem Gamblers and Smokers

Abstract

Pathological gambling (PG) is associated with maladaptive perseverative behavior, but the underlying mechanism and neural circuitry is not completely clear. Here, the hypothesis was tested that PG is characterized by response perseveration and abnormalities in reward and/or punishment sensitivity in the ventral frontostriatal circuit. Executive functioning was assessed to verify if these effects are independent of the dorsal frontostriatal circuit. A group of smokers was also included to examine whether impairments in PG generalize to substance use disorders. Response perseveration and reward/punishment sensitivity were measured with a probabilistic reversallearning task, in which subjects could win and lose money. Executive functioning was measured with a planning task, the Tower of London. Performance and fMRI data were acquired in 19 problem gamblers, 19 smokers, and 19 healthy controls. Problem gamblers showed severe response perseveration, associated with reduced activation of right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in response to both monetary gain and loss. Results did not fully generalize to smokers. Planning performance and related activation of the dorsal frontostriatal circuit were intact in both problem gamblers and smokers. PG is related to response perseveration and diminished reward and punishment sensitivity as indicated by hypoactivation of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex when money is gained and lost. Moreover, intact planning abilities and normal dorsal frontostriatal responsiveness indicate that this deficit is not due to impaired executive functioning. Response perseveration and ventral prefrontal hyporesponsiveness to monetary loss may be markers for maladaptive behavior seen in chemical and nonchemical addictions.

Amplified Striatal Responses to Near-Miss Outcomes in Pathological Gamblers

“…This observation bears relevance in the context of the recent debate questioning whether or not pathological gamblers have a hypo-active reward system (Leyton and Vezina, 2012). Whereas some studies have reported blunted brain responses to monetary rewards in pathological gamblers (Balodis et al, 2012;de Ruiter et al, 2009;Reuter et al, 2005), others have reported normal to exaggerated responses (Hewig et al, 2010;Oberg et al, 2011;Sescousse et al, 2013). Importantly, we employed an ecologically valid slot machine task with relatively high amounts of money that were delivered for real, raising confidence that our observations do not reflect a lack of behavioral relevance as has been suggested for previous studies Vezina, 2012, 2013).…”

Fiber connectivity between the striatum and cortical and subcortical regions is associated with temperaments in Chinese males

“…Although P as a temperament trait was paid less attention by researchers compared to other three temperaments, similar behavioral constructs such as "perseveration" (de Ruiter et al, 2009;Serpell et al, 2009) and "habit formation"/goal-directed behaviors (de Wit et al, , 2012 in humans and animals have been extensively discussed in the fields of neuropsychology, neurology, and psychiatry . Results of these studies also showed that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex played an important role in "perseveration" …”

Pathologisches Glücksspiel und Delinquenz

“…B. Balodis et al 2012;Romanczuk-Seiferth et al 2015;Reuter et al 2005;de Ruiter et al 2009). Zu beachten ist, dass motivationale Veränderungen des Belohnungssystems nicht gleichbedeutend sind mit Veränderungen des subjektiven Erlebens von Verstärkung bzw.…”

“…Gleichzeitig berichten verschiedene Studien eine verminderte Reaktionsbereitschaft des Gehirns bei Personen mit pathologischem Glücksspiel auf übliche Verstärker, wie etwa Geld, Sexualität, Essen etc. (Balodis et al 2012;Reuter et al 2005;de Ruiter et al 2009 (Koehler et al 2013b;Tschernegg et al 2013;van Holst et al 2012b). Hinsichtlich möglicher hirnstruktureller Veränderungen des Gehirns bei pathologischem Glücksspiel sind die Befunde bisher wenig konsistent: Während einige Autoren keine lokalen Volumenunterschiede berichteten (Joutsa et al 2011;van Holst et al 2012a), fanden sich in anderen Studien gegenüber Gesunden erhöhte Volumina grauer Substanz im Präfrontalkortex sowie im ventralen Striatum (Koehler et al 2013a) sowie eine verringerte Integrität weißer Substanz in weiten Teilen des Gehirns pathologischer Glücksspieler (Joutsa et al 2011;Yip et al 2013).…”