Time of day differences in neural reward responsiveness in children

Abstract

The Reward Positivity (∆RewP) event‐related potential (ERP), generally quantified as the difference between neural responsiveness to monetary gains (RewP‐Gain) and losses (RewP‐Loss) is commonly used as an index of neural reward responsiveness. Despite the popularity of this ERP component in studies of reward processing, knowledge about the role of state‐related influences on the ∆RewP is limited. The present study examined whether ∆RewP amplitudes may differ based on when during the day they are assessed and whether age or sex would moderate this link. Participants were 188 children between the ages of 7 and 11 (47.3% female) without a lifetime history of a major depressive disorder or any anxiety disorder recruited from the community. Children completed the Doors task during which continuous electroencephalography was recorded to isolate the ∆RewP. To better isolate this ERP component from other temporally or spatially overlapping ERPs, we used temporospatial principal component analysis. We found that time of day (ToD) differences in the ∆RewP amplitude varied based on children's age. Specifically, older, compared to younger, children exhibited stronger responses to gains versus losses between 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and after around 5:15 p.m. Further, these age‐related differences appeared to be driven specifically by older children's reduced neural responsiveness to losses. The findings have methodological implications by highlighting the importance of accounting for the ToD at which ∆RewP‐focused study sessions are conducted as well as for demographic characteristics of the participants, such as their age.

Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors, and Event-Related Potentials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…One study in a community adult sample found no difference in the RewP between those with a previous SA and controls without a previous SA ( g = -0.14 – 0.21; Tsypes et al, 2020). An unpublished study with a similar design by the same group also failed to find a difference in the RewP between those with a SA and controls ( g = -0.49 – -0.02; Tsypes & Gibb, 2020). Last, among a sample of adolescents experiencing depression, there was a positive relationship between the RewP and having suicide risk (i.e., experiencing any STB; g = 0.74; Pegg et al, 2020).…”

Reward Responsiveness in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study: African Americans’ Diminished Returns of Parental Education

“…In the recent version of the same theory [24], Gray and McNaughton have discussed BAS-based RR as well as approach-related behaviors and stimuli that contribute to human decisions, choices, and behaviors. Many investigators have found evidence linking the RR trait to a wide range of health and behavioral outcomes in clinical [22,25,26] as well as community [27] samples. RR is also highly relevant to adolescents' behaviors and risk-taking [9,13,28].…”

African American Children’s Diminished Returns of Subjective Family Socioeconomic Status on Fun Seeking

“…In a more recent version of the theory [ 2 ], Gray and McNaughton discussed the contribution of the BAS-based reward sensitivity and approach-related behaviors and stimuli to human behaviors. Many investigators have found evidence regarding the relevance of reward sensitivity, as the main component of approach motivations, to a wide range of health and behavioral outcomes in clinical samples [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], as well as the general population [ 27 ]. These BAS-based reward-sensitivity traits are also relevant to children’s risk behaviors [ 11 , 15 , 28 ].…”