State sadness reduces neural sensitivity to nonrewards versus rewards.
Both behavioral and neural evidence suggests that depression is associated with reduced sensitivity to rewards. Using the feedback negativity, a neural index of reward processing, an earlier study showed that depressive symptoms experienced over the previous week were associated with less differentiation between nonrewards and rewards in a gambling task. To directly test whether variability in state mood related to similar effects on neural correlates of reward, this study recorded the feedback negativity in individuals assigned to either a neutral or sad mood induction. Following the induction, individuals reporting greater sadness exhibited a reduced feedback negativity. This finding indicates that fluctuation in state negative affect moderates how environmental feedback is processed by reducing neural sensitivity to nonrewards versus rewards.
Foti
Dan
D
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2500, USA. daniel.foti@stonybrook.edu
Hajcak
Greg
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult