Background
Mesocorticolimbic neurocircuitry and impulsivity have both been implicated in pathological
gambling (PG) and in reward processing. However, the neural underpinnings of specific
phases of reward and loss processing in PG and their relationships to impulsivity
remain only partially understood. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging
study examined brain activity associated with different phases of reward and loss
processing in PG. Given an inverse relationship between ventral striatal recruitment
during anticipation of monetary rewards and impulsivity in alcohol dependence, the
current study explored whether a similar association might also be present in PG.
Methods
Fourteen adults with PG and 14 control comparison participants performed the Monetary
Incentive Delay Task to identify brain activation changes associated with reward/loss
prospect, reward/loss anticipation, and reward/loss notification. Impulsivity was
assessed separately using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale.
Results
Relative to the control comparison group, the PG group exhibited significantly reduced
activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, insula, and ventral striatum during
several phases, including the prospect and anticipation phases of both gains and losses.
Activity in the ventral striatum correlated inversely with levels of impulsivity in
PG participants, consistent with prior findings in alcohol dependence.
Conclusions
Relatively decreased activity in corticostriatal neurocircuitry during multiple phases
of reward processing suggests consistent alterations in neurocircuitry underlying
incentive valuation and loss prediction. Together with findings in alcohol dependence,
these results suggest that impulsive tendencies in addictions may be reflected in
diminished ventral striatal activations to reward anticipation and may represent targets
for treatment development in addictions.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 16, 2012
Accepted:
January 5,
2012
Received in revised form:
January 4,
2012
Received:
July 20,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
