Atypical social reward anticipation as a transdiagnostic characteristic of psychopathology: A meta-analytic review and critical evaluation of current evidence

Aberrant social reward dynamics in individuals with melancholic major depressive disorder: An ERP study

BACKGROUND

Compared to monetary rewards, depressive symptoms are specifically associated with abnormal social reward processing. In addition, individuals with melancholic depression may exhibit more significant reward-related impairments. However, there is still limited understanding of the specific alterations in social reward processing in individuals with melancholic depression.

METHODS

Forty patients with melancholic major depressive disorder (MDD), forty patients with non-melancholic MDD, and fifty healthy controls participated in the social incentive delay (SID) tasks with event-related potential (ERP) recording. We measured one anticipatory ERP(cueN2) and two consummatory ERPs (FRN, fb-P3). Furthermore, we examined correlation between FRN and consummatory anhedonia.

RESULTS

Melancholic MDD patients showed less anticipation of social rewards (cueN2). Concurrently, melancholic individuals demonstrated diminished reception of social rewards, as evidenced by reduced amplitudes of FRN. Notably, the group x condition interaction effect on FRN was significant (F (2, 127) = 4.15, p = 0.018, η2ρ = 0.061). Melancholic MDD patients had similar neural responses to both gain and neutral feedback (blunted reward positivity), whereas non-melancholic MDD patients (t (39) = 3.09, p = 0.004) and healthy participants (t (49) = 5.25, p < 0.001) had smaller FRN amplitudes when receiving gain feedback relative to neutral feedback. In addition, there was a significant correlation between FRN and consummatory anhedonia in MDD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that individuals with melancholic MDD exhibit attenuated neural responses to both anticipated and consumed social rewards. This suggests that aberrant processing of social rewards could serve as a potential biomarker for melancholic MDD.

Heightened response to positive facial cues as a potential marker of resilience following childhood adversity

Background: Childhood maltreatment profoundly influences social and emotional development, increasing psychiatric risk. Alterations in the implicit processing of threat-related cues following early abuse and neglect represent a marker of mental health vulnerability. Less is known about how early adversity influences the perception of positive social cues, despite their central role in establishing and maintaining social interactions and their association with better mental health outcomes.Methods: The sample consisted of 42 children and adolescents with substantiated childhood maltreatment experiences and 32 peers (mean age 13.3), matched on age, pubertal status, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and cognitive ability. A computerised experimental task assessed the perceived emotional intensity of positive (happy) and negative (fearful) facial expressions. Mental health symptoms were measured via self- and parental reports, and perceived social support was self-reported.Results: The experience of abuse and neglect was associated with heightened perceived intensity of positive facial cues. Cross-sectional post-hoc moderation and mediation analyses, employing a model-building approach, revealed that in maltreatment-exposed participants: (i) their increased response to positive facial cues was associated with lower symptoms; (ii) the presence of social support accounted for their heightened perceived intensity of positive facial cues; (iii) the presence of social support putatively contributed to lower symptoms by increasing the perceived intensity of positive facial cues. No group differences in perceived intensity of negative expressions were observed.Conclusions: These findings provide fresh insight into how positive faces are processed following maltreatment experience in childhood. Maltreatment experience was found to be associated with heightened perceived intensity of happy faces, which in turn was associated with better mental health and greater levels of social support. This suggests that heightened saliency of positive emotions acts protectively in children with maltreatment experience.

Social motivation by self- and caregiver-report: Reporter concordance and social correlates among autistic and neurotypical youth

Differences in social motivation underlie the core social-communication features of autism according to several theoretical models, with decreased social motivation among autistic youth relative to neurotypical peers. However, research on social motivation often relies on caregiver reports and rarely includes firsthand perspectives of children and adolescents with autism. Furthermore, social motivation is typically assumed to be constant across social settings when it may actually vary by social context. Among a sample of 58 verbally fluent youth (8-13 years old; 22 with autism, 36 neurotypical), we examined correspondence between youth and caregiver reports of social motivation with peers and with adults, as well as diagnostic group differences and associations with social outcomes. Results suggest youth and caregivers provide overlapping but distinct information. Autistic youth had lower levels of social motivation relative to neurotypical youth, and reported relatively consistent motivation toward peers and adults. Youth self- and caregiver-report were correlated for motivation toward adults, but not toward peers. Despite low correspondence between self- and caregiver-reported motivation toward peers, autistic youths' self-report corresponded to caregiver-reported social skills and difficulties whereas caregiver-report of peer motivation did not. For neurotypical youth, self- and caregiver-reported motivation toward adults was correlated, but motivation by both reporters was largely independent of broader social outcomes. Findings highlight the unique value of self-report among autistic children and adolescents, and warrant additional work exploring the development, structure, and correlates of social motivation among autistic and neurotypical youth.

Activation of the CA2-ventral CA1 pathway reverses social discrimination dysfunction in Shank3B knockout mice

Mutation or deletion of the SHANK3 gene, which encodes a synaptic scaffolding protein, is linked to autism spectrum disorder and Phelan-McDermid syndrome, conditions associated with social memory impairments. Shank3B knockout mice also exhibit social memory deficits. The CA2 region of the hippocampus integrates numerous inputs and sends a major output to the ventral CA1 (vCA1). Despite finding few differences in excitatory afferents to the CA2 in Shank3B knockout mice, we found that activation of CA2 neurons as well as the CA2-vCA1 pathway restored social recognition function to wildtype levels. vCA1 neuronal oscillations have been linked to social memory, but we observed no differences in these measures between wildtype and Shank3B knockout mice. However, activation of the CA2 enhanced vCA1 theta power in Shank3B knockout mice, concurrent with behavioral improvements. These findings suggest that stimulating adult circuitry in a mouse model with neurodevelopmental impairments can invoke latent social memory function.

Social anxiety inhibits needs repair following exclusion in both relational and non-relational reward contexts: The mediating role of positive affect

The pain of social exclusion can motivate people to capitalize on opportunities to reconnect with others and repair their self-esteem and feelings of belongingness. This effect is often diminished for those with high social anxiety (HSA). Prior research suggests this may be due to their diminished capacity for recognizing and emotionally responding to relational reward cues. We investigated whether non-relational success experiences in the aftermath of exclusion may be an alternative means of repairing threatened self-esteem and belongingness in HSA individuals. In a preregistered, online study, we threatened belongingness and self-esteem in 422 participants by excluding them in a Cyberball game and then assigned them to one of three conditions: Relational Repair, Non-Relational Repair, or a No-Repair control condition. Results showed that both repair contexts facilitated needs repair relative to the no-repair control condition, and mediation analyses suggested this effect was driven by increased positive affect (PA). HSA individuals were less likely to restore needs regardless of condition and this effect appeared to be driven by low PA. Findings emphasize the critical role of PA for restoring threatened needs in the aftermath of exclusion and suggest that HSA inhibits needs repair processes across both relational and non-relational reward contexts.

Scenario-specific aberrations of social reward processing in dimensional schizotypy and psychopathy

The feelings of reward associated with social interaction help to motivate social behaviour and influence preferences for different types of social contact. In two studies conducted in a general population sample, we investigated self-reported and experimentally-assessed social reward processing in personality spectra with prominent interpersonal features, namely schizotypy and psychopathy. Study 1 (n = 154) measured social reward processing using the Social Reward Questionnaire, and a modified version of a Monetary and Social Incentive Delay Task. Study 2 (n = 42; a subsample of Study 1) investigated social reward processing using a Social Reward Subtype Incentive Delay Task. Our results show that schizotypy (specifically Cognitive-Perceptual dimension) and psychopathy (specifically Lifestyle dimension) are associated with diverging responses to social scenarios involving large gatherings or meeting new people (Sociability), with reduced processing in schizotypy and heightened processing in psychopathy. No difference, however, occurred for other social scenarios-with similar patterns of increased antisocial (Negative Social Potency) and reduced prosocial (Admiration, Sociability) reward processing across schizotypy and psychopathy dimensions. Our findings contribute new knowledge on social reward processing within these personality spectra and, with the important exception of Sociability, highlight potentially converging patterns of social reward processing in association with schizotypy and psychopathy.

Using expectation violation models to improve the outcome of psychological treatments

Expectations are a central maintaining mechanism in mental disorders and most psychological treatments aim to directly or indirectly modify clinically relevant expectations. Therefore, it is crucial to examine why patients with mental disorders maintain dysfunctional expectations, even in light of disconfirming evidence, and how expectation-violating situations should be created in treatment settings to optimize treatment outcome and reduce the risk of treatment failures. The different psychological subdisciplines offer various approaches for understanding the underlying mechanisms of expectation development, persistence, and change. Here, we convey recommendations on how to improve psychological treatments by considering these different perspectives. Based on our expectation violation model, we argue that the outcome of expectation violation depends on several characteristics: features of the expectation-violating situation; the dynamics between the magnitude of expectation violation and cognitive immunization processes; dealing with uncertainties during and after expectation change; controlled and automatic attention processes; and the costs of expectation changes. Personality factors further add to predict outcomes and may offer a basis for personalized treatment planning. We conclude with a list of recommendations derived from basic psychology that could contribute to improved treatment outcome and to reduced risks of treatment failures.

Altered neural mechanism of social reward anticipation in individuals with schizophrenia and social anhedonia

Altered social reward anticipation could be found in schizophrenia (SCZ) patients and individuals with high levels of social anhedonia (SA). However, few research investigated the putative neural processing for altered social reward anticipation in these populations on the SCZ spectrum. This study aimed to examine the underlying neural mechanisms of social reward anticipation in these populations. Twenty-three SCZ patients and 17 healthy controls (HC), 37 SA individuals and 50 respective HCs completed the Social Incentive Delay (SID) imaging task while they were undertaking MRI brain scans. We used the group contrast to examine the alterations of BOLD activation and functional connectivity (FC, psychophysiological interactions analysis). We then characterized the beta-series social brain network (SBN) based on the meta-analysis results from NeuroSynth and examined their prediction effects on real-life social network (SN) characteristics using the partial least squared regression analysis. The results showed that SCZ patients exhibited hypo-activation of the left medial frontal gyrus and the negative FCs with the left parietal regions, while individuals with SA showed the hyper-activation of the left middle frontal gyrus when anticipating social reward. For the beta-series SBNs, SCZ patients had strengthened cerebellum-temporal FCs, while SA individuals had strengthened left frontal regions FCs. However, such FCs of the SBN failed to predict the real-life SN characteristics. These preliminary findings suggested that SCZ patients and SA individuals appear to exhibit altered neural processing for social reward anticipation, and such neural activities showed a weakened association with real-life SN characteristics.

Social thinning and stress generation after childhood maltreatment: a neurocognitive social transactional model of psychiatric vulnerability

Childhood maltreatment is associated with significant, enduring risk of psychiatric disorder. In this paper, we review how neurocognitive alterations after maltreatment might indirectly increase the risk of psychiatric disorder via their impact on social functioning. We propose a neurocognitive social transactional model, within which the neurocognitive sequelae of maltreatment are postulated to affect how an individual's social architecture is constructed across development, including the quality and quantity of relationships in an individual's social network. We review extant evidence in two areas in relation to maltreatment: stress generation (a process by which individuals are more likely to experience interpersonal stressor events) and social thinning (an attenuation in the number and quality of relationships over time). We consider how neurocognitive alterations could contribute to these interactive and autocatalytic social processes, which gradually impoverish an individual's actual or potential social environment and ultimately increase psychiatric risk. We conclude by considering the implications of this neurocognitive social transactional model for the prevention of psychiatric disorder after childhood maltreatment.

Gesture-speech synchrony in schizophrenia: A pilot study using a kinematic-acoustic analysis

Severe impairment of social functioning is the core feature of schizophrenia that persists despite treatment, and contributes to chronic functional disability. Abnormal non-verbal behaviors have been reported during interpersonal interactions but the temporal coordination of co-speech gestures with language abilities have been poorly studied to date in this pathology. Using the dynamical systems framework, the goal of the current study was to investigate whether gestures and speech synchrony is impaired in schizophrenia, exploring a new approach to report communicational skill disorders. Performing the first continuous kinematic-acoustic analysis in individuals with schizophrenia, we examined gesture-speech synchrony in solo spontaneous speech and in sensorimotor synchronization task. The experimental group consisted of twenty-eight participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and the control group consisted of twenty-four healthy participants age-gender-education matched. The results showed that spontaneous gesture-speech synchrony was preserved while intentional finger tapping-speech synchrony was impaired. In sensorimotor synchronization task, the schizophrenia group displayed greater asynchronies between finger tapping and syllable uttering and lower stability of coordination patterns. These findings suggest a specific deficit in time delay of information circulation and processing, especially in explicit functions. Thus, investigating intrapersonal coordination in schizophrenia may constitute a promising window into brain/behavior dynamic relationship.

Neural substrates of substance use disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Substance use disorders account for a tremendous burden to society, yet despite substantial progress in basic studies, our understanding of the brain-basis of these disorders is still emerging. This review summarizes the recent findings of neuroimaging studies with substance use disorder individuals.

RECENT FINDINGS

Resting-state functional connectivity studies support for some but not all substances of abuse and disruption in executive control. Structural neuroimaging findings point towards reduced subcortical volumes, which may emerge as an interaction between preexisting factors and recent substance use. Longitudinal studies implicate some of the same core brain structures and their functional role that have also been identified via case-control studies. Finally, meta-analyses support the idea of dysregulation of cortical control over subcortical salience processing.

SUMMARY

Although progress has been made and there is both structural and functional imaging evidence of an imbalance between brain structures involved in executive control and salience processing, there is emerging evidence that brain-behaviour relationships, which are core to discovering the neural processes that lead to and maintain substance use, are small and require larger consortia that prospectively examine individuals with substance use disorder.

The Effects of Anhedonia in Social Context

Purpose of Review

Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom comprising reduced subjective reward or pleasure. Anhedonia influences subjective anticipation and in-the-moment experiences. This review draws together affective learning and engagement evidence for anhedonia affecting subjective experiences of social environments.

Recent Findings

While social engagement is diminished consistently, subjective appraisals of social contexts vary across different mental health disorders. Low positive affect during social experiences or stimuli is reported in PTSD, mood, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. Diminished neural reward networks underpin the anticipation of social experiences in ADHD, schizophrenia spectrum, and autistic spectrum disorders. Multiple theories exist to explain how anhedonia might interfere with social environments.

Summary

Anhedonia is a barrier to engagement, motivation, and enjoyment of social contexts. While many studies characterize experiences during social contexts, learning theories provide the most promise for developing targeted interventions.