Reward anticipation in the adolescent and aging brain

Abstract

Processing of reward is the basis of adaptive behavior of the human being. Neural correlates of reward processing seem to be influenced by developmental changes from adolescence to late adulthood. The aim of this study is to uncover these neural correlates during a slot machine gambling task across the lifespan. Therefore, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate 102 volunteers in three different age groups: 34 adolescents, 34 younger adults, and 34 older adults. We focused on the core reward areas ventral striatum (VS) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), the valence processing associated areas, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula, as well as information integration associated areas, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Results showed that VS and VMPFC were characterized by a hyperactivation in adolescents compared with younger adults. Furthermore, the ACC and insula were characterized by a U-shape pattern (hypoactivation in younger adults compared with adolescents and older adults), whereas the DLPFC and IPL were characterized by a J-shaped form (hyperactivation in older adults compared with younger groups). Furthermore, a functional connectivity analysis revealed an elevated negative functional coupling between the inhibition-related area rIFG and VS in younger adults compared with adolescents. Results indicate that lifespan-related changes during reward anticipation are characterized by different trajectories in different reward network modules and support the hypothesis of an imbalance in maturation of striatal and prefrontal cortex in adolescents. Furthermore, these results suggest compensatory age-specific effects in fronto-parietal regions.

Neural networks involved in adolescent reward processing: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies

“…Dissociating different features of the various reward paradigms, in addition to more studies of negative valence, will further clarify how these age-related neural changes impact behavior -- particularly risk-taking tendencies that can be ascribed to over-activity in reward processing networks. Notably, previous studies on adolescent reward processing have relied on studies of adult reward processing (Liu et al, 2011) for guiding hypothesis testing and ROI analyses (e.g., Lorenz et al, 2014). Given the differences found here between adolescent and adult reward processing, this and similar meta-analyses of adolescent reward processing can guide hypothesis testing for future studies focusing on adolescents.…”

Decreased Subcortical and Increased Cortical Degree Centrality in a Nonclinical College Student Sample with Subclinical Depressive Symptoms: A Resting-State fMRI Study

“…The caudate is another brain region in which abnormality is commonly reported in depressive disorder patients (Zhang et al, 2013). As a central part of the reward circuit, in contrast to the amygdala, the caudate is more often associated with the processing of rewards (Lorenz et al, 2014) and positive emotion (Haber and Knutson, 2010). A previous structural study in non-clinical participants reported that trait anhedonia is linked to volumetric reduction in the caudate (Zhang et al, 2013).…”

Dimensions of Impulsivity in Gambling Disorder

“…In fact, most studies outline that it is precisely the transition from middle-age adulthood to older age (around 50 years-old) the critical phase with relevant adjustments and changes which can significantly affect the gambling habits, being the most relevant risk factors for GD some socio-demographical variations (e.g. employment retirement, financial disadvantages or social isolation) 50,51 , the age-related neurological vulnerabilities in the mechanisms related with behavioral regulation and diminished executive functioning typical of elderly [52][53][54] , and the physical and psychological unhealthy typical of the senior age (such as chronic medical conditions, limited mobility, anxiety or depression) 55 .…”