title: Is avolition in schizophrenia associated with a deficit of dorsal caudate activity? A functional magnetic resonance imaging study during reward anticipation and feedback.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neurobiological underpinnings of avolition in schizophrenia remain unclear. Most brain imaging research has focused on reward prediction deficit and on ventral striatum dysfunction, but findings are not consistent. In the light of accumulating evidence that both ventral striatum and dorsal caudate play a key role in motivation, we investigated ventral striatum and dorsal caudate activation during processing of reward or loss in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activation during a Monetary Incentive Delay task in patients with schizophrenia, treated with second-generation antipsychotics only, and in healthy controls (HC). We also assessed the relationships of ventral striatum and dorsal caudate activation with measures of hedonic experience and motivation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The whole patient group had lower motivation but comparable hedonic experience and striatal activation than HC. Patients with high avolition scores showed lower dorsal caudate activation than both HC and patients with low avolition scores. A lower dorsal caudate activation was also observed in patients with deficit schizophrenia compared to HC and patients with non-deficit schizophrenia. Dorsal caudate activity during reward anticipation was significantly associated with avolition, but not with anhedonia in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that avolition in schizophrenia is linked to dorsal caudate hypoactivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Naples SUN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mucci
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Research Program,Department of Psychiatry,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York,USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dima
authors.affiliation: University of Naples 'Parthenope' and IRCCS Research Institute SDN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soricelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Naples SUN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Naples SUN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Research Program,Department of Psychiatry,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York,USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frangou
authors.affiliation: Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute,National Research Council,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prinster
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphological and Functional Studies,University of Naples 'Federico II',Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Naples SUN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galderisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Naples SUN,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D030141:Feedback, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D012201:Reward; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: ventral striatum