Cited by 305Gambling Behavior and TreatmentsNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Diminished Frontostriatal Activity During Processing of Monetary Rewards and Losses in Pathological Gambling

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Balodis, Iris M., Kober, Hedy, Worhunsky, Patrick D., Stevens, Michael C., Pearlson, Godfrey D., Potenza, Marc N.·2012·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

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.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.01.006

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Authors
Balodis, I. M., Kober, H., Worhunsky, P. D., Stevens, M. C., Pearlson, G. D., & Potenza, M. N.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • Hartford Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Balodis, Iris M.
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-04
Volume
71
Issue
8
Pages
749-757
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1984875915
Cited by
305
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 10
FWCI
36.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (R01-DA019039, P20-DA027844, P50-AA012870, R01-DA020908, R01-DA020709, R01-AA016599, RL1-AA017539, K12-DA00167)
  • National Center for Responsible Gaming
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
gambling addiction, reward processing, loss processing, impulsivity, ventral striatum, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, insula, mesocorticolimbic circuitry, monetary incentive delay task, neurobiology of addiction
MeSH terms
Adult, Basal Ganglia, Female, Gambling, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Reward, Case-Control Studies, Prefrontal Cortex, Functional Neuroimaging

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