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Cited by 183Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Neural sensitivity to eudaimonic and hedonic rewards differentially predict adolescent depressive symptoms over time

Open access
Telzer, Eva H., Fuligni, Andrew J., Lieberman, Matthew D., Galván, Adriana·2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1323014111PMC PMC4020059
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Abstract

Significance: Although optimal well-being may be achieved through eudaimonic activities (meaning and purpose), individuals tend to orient toward hedonic activities (pleasure seeking), potentially placing them at risk for ill-being. We find that reward-related neural activation during eudaimonic decisions predicts longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms, whereas reward-related neural activation to hedonic decisions predicts longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms. We identified a potential neural mechanism by which adolescents may develop or be protected from developing ill-being. These findings underscore how the motivational context underlying neural sensitivity to rewards can differentially predict changes in well-being over time. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that reward-related neural activation within an individual can be both a source of risk and protection.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a 1-y longitudinal fMRI study of adolescents, ventral striatum activation during eudaimonic (costly family donation) decisions predicted declines in depressive symptoms, whereas activation during hedonic (selfish reward and risky) decisions predicted increases. The authors argue that reward-related neural sensitivity can be either protective or risky depending on its motivational context.

Key findings

  • Ventral striatum activation during costly donation > pure reward predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms (β = −0.50, P = 0.002).
  • When examined separately, CD > Control predicted declines (β = −0.47, P = 0.01), whereas PR > Control predicted increases (β = 0.63, P = 0.008).
  • Ventral striatum activation during increasing risky decisions predicted longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.43, P = 0.006).
  • In simultaneous regression, CD > Control (B = −5.3, SE = 1.8, β = −0.42, P = 0.006), PR > Control (B = 2.8, SE = 0.98, β = 0.38, P = 0.01), and risky decisions (B = 5.5, SE = 2.5, β = 0.30, P = 0.04) each independently predicted changes in depressive symptoms; together they accounted for 58% of variance in T2 depressive symptoms controlling for T1 symptoms, with sex adding a nonsignificant 1%.
  • Ventral striatum activation was not associated with depressive symptoms at T1. Mean depressive symptoms did not change significantly from T1 (M = 14.05, SD = 8.09) to T2 (M = 13.49, SD = 9.55), t(38) = 0.49, ns, but T1 and T2 symptoms were correlated, r(39) = 0.68, P < 0.001.

Methods

  • Longitudinal fMRI study: 47 adolescents aged 15–17 y at T1 (Mage = 16.3 y; 20 males, 27 females) completed depressive symptom measures and fMRI; 39 returned 1 y later at T2 (Mage = 17.1 y; 16 males, 23 females).
  • Depressive symptoms were measured with the internalizing symptoms subscale of the Youth Self-Report form of the Child Behavior Checklist at both time points.
  • Participants completed a family donation task contrasting costly donations (eudaimonic) with pure rewards (hedonic selfish) and the Balloon Analog Risk Task for risky hedonic rewards. Ventral striatum ROI parameter estimates were regressed onto residualized T2 depressive symptoms, controlling for sex.

Limitations

  • The authors state that future research should replicate these findings in a larger sample size and across other tasks that tap other aspects of eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.
  • The authors note that they did not find an association between eudaimonic and hedonic rewards, which they suggest is likely a by-product of the experimental tasks and less reflective of real-world experiences.
  • Evident from the text: the sample was small and had attrition (47 to 39 overall; family donation task 40 at T1 and 32 at T2), and the observational longitudinal design cannot establish causality.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1323014111

Cites

41 of 41 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 40 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data
    § Results

    T1 depressive symptoms were not associated with ventral striatum activation during risky decisions.

    “Depressive symptoms at T1 were not associated with activation in the ventral striatum.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Results

    T1 depressive symptoms were not associated with ventral striatum activation during CD > PR decisions.

    “Depressive symptoms were not associated with activation in ventral striatum during CD > PR decisions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Results

    Ventral striatum activation during CD > Control decisions predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms (β = −0.47, P = 0.01) when PR > Control was simultaneously regressed.

    “Whereas adolescents who showed heightened striatal response during CD decisions showed longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms (β = −0.47, P = 0.01)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Abstract

    Ventral striatum activation during eudaimonic decisions (CD > PR) predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms.

    “Ventral striatum activation during eudaimonic decisions predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms, whereas ventral striatum activation to hedonic decisions related to longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Ventral striatum activation was significantly associated with longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms (β = −0.50, P = 0.002).”
    • Also stated in: § Discussion · plain
      “ventral striatum activation to eudaimonic decisions predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Abstract

    Ventral striatum activation during hedonic decisions (PR > Control) predicted longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.

    “Ventral striatum activation during eudaimonic decisions predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms, whereas ventral striatum activation to hedonic decisions related to longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “adolescents who showed heightened activation during PR decisions showed longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.63, P = 0.008)”
    • Also stated in: § Discussion · plain
      “ventral striatum activation to hedonic decisions predicted longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 19
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 29

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    T1 depressive symptoms were not associated with ventral striatum activation during CD > Control or PR > Control.

    “T1 depressive symptoms were not associated with ventral striatum activation during CD > Control or PR > Control.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Ventral striatum activation during PR > Control decisions predicted longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.63, P = 0.008) when CD > Control was simultaneously regressed.

    “adolescents who showed heightened activation during PR decisions showed longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.63, P = 0.008)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Ventral striatum activation to eudaimonic and hedonic rewards account for 58% of the variance in T2 depressive symptoms (controlling for T1 symptoms), with sex accounting for an additional but nonsignificant 1% of variance.

    “Taken together these results show that ventral striatum activation to eudaimonic and hedonic rewards account for 58% of the variance in T2 depressive symptoms (controlling for T1 symptoms), with sex accounting for an additional but nonsignificant 1% of variance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Striatal response during CD trials was not correlated with striatal response during risky decisions or PR trials.

    “Striatal response during CD trials was not correlated with striatal response during risky decisions (r = 0.04, ns) or PR trials (r = −0.04, ns).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Females showed slight increases in depressive symptoms from T1 to T2, whereas males showed slight decreases; this sex difference was marginally significant.

    “females showed slight increases in depressive symptoms from T1 to T2 (M = 1.6, SD = 6.8), whereas males showed slight decreases in depressive symptoms [M = −2.3, SD = 6.9; t(37) = 1.78, P = 0.084].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Prosocial behaviors to help strangers, friends, family members, or charities are related to feelings of happiness and meaning.

    “Behavioral research in adolescents and adults has found that prosocial behaviors to help strangers, friends, family members, or charities are related to feelings of happiness and meaning (9–11).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [9] Dunn EW, Aknin LB, Norton MI. Spending money on others promotes happiness. Science. 2008;319(5870):1687–1688. doi: 10.1126/science.1150952. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

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      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Contemporary psychological research distinguishes between eudaimonic and hedonic well-being, with empirical studies demonstrating long-term benefits of eudaimonic pursuits and sometimes detrimental effects of hedonic pursuits.

    “Contemporary psychological research has continued to distinguish between eudaimonic well-being and hedonic well-being, (e.g., refs. 3 and 4), with empirical studies demonstrating the long-term benefits of eudaimonic pursuits and the sometimes detrimental effects of hedonic pursuits (e.g., ref. 5).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] Urry HL, et al. Making a life worth living: Neural correlates of well-being. Psychol Sci. 2004;15(6):367–372. doi: 10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00686.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

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      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] Steger MF, Kashdan TB, Oishi S. Being good by doing good: Daily eudaimonic activity and well-being. J Res Pers. 2008;42(1):22–42. [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    Striatal response to eudaimonic rewards may represent a motivational orientation toward engaging in inherently meaningful activities that may increase feelings of value, meaningfulness, and intrinsic reward, therefore providing psychological and social resources and leading to better well-being over time.

    “Thus, our striatal response to eudaimonic rewards may represent a motivational orientation toward engaging in inherently meaningful activities that may increase feelings of value, meaningfulness, and intrinsic reward, therefore providing psychological and social resources and leading to better well-being over time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The experimental tasks validly capture real-world eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Aristotle argued that optimal well-being is achieved through eudaimonia, whereas pleasure and desire can be harmful to human growth.

    “Aristotle argued that optimal well-being is achieved through eudaimonia, whereas pleasure and desire can be harmful to human growth (2).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] Aristotle 2000. Nichomachean Ethics, trans Crisp R (Cambridge Univ Press, Cambridge, UK)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § Discussion

    The experience of pleasure during the receipt of pure rewards and risk taking may not be connected to deeper psychological processes, and striatal response to such immediate rewards may represent a poor long-term strategy for achieving enduring well-being.

    “Therefore, the experience of pleasure during the receipt of pure rewards and risk taking may not be connected to deeper psychological processes, and striatal response to such immediate rewards may represent a poor long-term strategy for achieving enduring well-being (5).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Steger MF, Kashdan TB, Oishi S. Being good by doing good: Daily eudaimonic activity and well-being. J Res Pers. 2008;42(1):22–42. [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: The experimental tasks validly capture real-world eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Neural systems involved in reward processing undergo significant changes during adolescence, resulting in a greater orientation toward rewards.

    “Neural systems involved in the generation of reward processing undergo significant changes during adolescence, resulting in a greater orientation toward rewards (6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Nelson EE, Leibenluft E, McClure EB, Pine DS. The social re-orientation of adolescence: A neuroscience perspective on the process and its relation to psychopathology. Psychol Med. 2005;35(2):163–174. doi: 10.1017/s0033291704003915. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    The differential, yet independent, nature of eudaimonic and hedonic rewards suggests that finding ways for adolescents to engage in meaningful, eudaimonic activities could provide protection against developing ill-being, even if they are also oriented toward hedonic activities.

    “Given the differential, yet independent, nature of eudaimonic and hedonic rewards, finding ways for adolescents to engage in meaningful, eudaimonic activities could provide protection against developing ill-being, even if they are also oriented toward hedonic activities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The experimental tasks validly capture real-world eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Adolescents, more so than children or adults, show heightened activation in brain regions involved in reward processing when receiving rewards.

    “Adolescents, more so than children or adults, show heightened activation in brain regions involved in reward processing when receiving rewards (7).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Galvan A, et al. Earlier development of the accumbens relative to orbitofrontal cortex might underlie risk-taking behavior in adolescents. J Neurosci. 2006;26(25):6885–6892. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1062-06.2006. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § Discussion

    Neural sensitivity to eudaimonic rewards does not relate to immediate well-being but predicts changes in depressive symptoms over time.

    “Therefore, neural sensitivity to eudaimonic rewards does not relate to immediate well-being but, rather, predicts changes in depressive symptoms over time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The experimental tasks validly capture real-world eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Hedonic rewards provide short-term feelings of happiness and satisfaction, but such positive affect tends to dissipate more quickly than eudaimonic rewards.

    “Hedonic rewards provide short-term feelings of happiness and satisfaction, but such positive affect tends to dissipate more quickly than eudaimonic rewards (5, 12, 16, 17).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [5] Steger MF, Kashdan TB, Oishi S. Being good by doing good: Daily eudaimonic activity and well-being. J Res Pers. 2008;42(1):22–42. [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

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    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Adolescents, more so than children or adults, show heightened activation in the ventral striatum following the receipt of hedonic rewards, including money, sucrose, and immediate rather than long-term rewards.

    “human and rodent research has shown that adolescents, more so than children or adults, show heightened activation in the ventral striatum following the receipt of hedonic rewards, including money, sucrose, and immediate rather than long-term rewards (7, 15, 19, 20).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [7] Galvan A, et al. Earlier development of the accumbens relative to orbitofrontal cortex might underlie risk-taking behavior in adolescents. J Neurosci. 2006;26(25):6885–6892. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1062-06.2006. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

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    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Adolescents and adults show heightened activation in the ventral striatum to eudaimonic rewards, such as prosocial decisions to help family, friends, or charities.

    “Adolescents and adults also show heightened activation in the ventral striatum to eudaimonic rewards, such as prosocial decisions to help family, friends, or charities (22–27).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
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      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Eudaimonic rewards are intrinsically meaningful, provide a sense of belonging and social connection, and lead to long-term well-being.

    “Eudaimonic rewards are intrinsically meaningful, provide a sense of belonging and social connection, and therefore lead to long-term well-being (5).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Steger MF, Kashdan TB, Oishi S. Being good by doing good: Daily eudaimonic activity and well-being. J Res Pers. 2008;42(1):22–42. [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Vulnerability to depression is thought to arise as a result of the unstable nature of rewards that are encoded during adolescence.

    “Vulnerability to depression is thought to arise as a result of the unstable nature of rewards that are encoded during adolescence (29).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29] Davey CG, Yücel M, Allen NB. The emergence of depression in adolescence: Development of the prefrontal cortex and the representation of reward. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008;32(1):1–19. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    Both eudaimonic and hedonic rewards are associated with activation in the ventral striatum.

    “both eudaimonic and hedonic rewards are associated with activation in the same neural circuitry, in particular, the ventral striatum, a key brain region consistently linked with the experience of pleasure or “liking” (1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML. Affective neuroscience of pleasure: Reward in humans and animals. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2008;199(3):457–480. doi: 10.1007/s00213-008-1099-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

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    Premisecitation
    § Abstract

    During risk taking, adolescents show higher activation in the ventral striatum than younger or older individuals.

    “Moreover, during risk taking, adolescents show higher activation in the ventral striatum than younger or older individuals (21).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] Chein J, Albert D, O’Brien L, Uckert K, Steinberg L. Peers increase adolescent risk taking by enhancing activity in the brain’s reward circuitry. Dev Sci. 2011;14(2):F1–F10. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2010.01035.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

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    Study design and conductreasoning
    § Methods

    Participants who accepted fewer than seven trials for any condition were excluded from the analyses because of low statistical power.

    “Participants who accepted fewer than seven trials for any condition were excluded from the analyses because of low statistical power (n = 7).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    Neural responses are likely not capturing trait-level personality characteristics but rather individual differences in long-term behavioral strategies that lead to changes in symptomology.

    “These findings suggest that the neural responses are likely not capturing trait-level personality characteristics but rather individual differences in long-term behavioral strategies that lead to changes in symptomology.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Discussion

    Reward-related neural regions undergo significant changes during adolescence, resulting in a greater sensitivity to the attainment of rewards.

    “These findings are consistent with models suggesting that reward-related neural regions undergo significant changes during adolescence, resulting in a greater sensitivity to the attainment of rewards (6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Nelson EE, Leibenluft E, McClure EB, Pine DS. The social re-orientation of adolescence: A neuroscience perspective on the process and its relation to psychopathology. Psychol Med. 2005;35(2):163–174. doi: 10.1017/s0033291704003915. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data
    § Methods

    No participant exceeded 2 mm of maximum image-to-image motion in any direction.

    “Preprocessing for each participant’s images included spatial realignment to correct for head motion (no participant exceeded 2 mm of maximum image-to-image motion in any direction).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § Discussion

    By engaging in and experiencing reward from eudaimonic pleasures, adolescents can build resources, such as feelings of meaning, happiness, and improved social relationships, and are therefore more likely to develop enduring well-being.

    “Thus, consistent with theories of eudaimonic well-being (5), by engaging in and experiencing reward from eudaimonic pleasures, adolescents can build resources, such as feelings of meaning, happiness, and improved social relationships, and are therefore more likely to develop enduring well-being.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Steger MF, Kashdan TB, Oishi S. Being good by doing good: Daily eudaimonic activity and well-being. J Res Pers. 2008;42(1):22–42. [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning
    § Methods

    PR trials approximate selfish hedonic rewards for the self.

    “CDs were contrasted to PRs, which approximate selfish hedonic rewards for the self.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data
    § Results

    The study controlled for sex in all subsequent analyses.

    “We therefore controlled for sex in all subsequent analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    The ways in which youth respond to different rewards can have significant implications for their attainment of well-being over time.

    “Rewards are salient and important during adolescence, and the ways in which youth respond to different rewards can have significant implications for their attainment of well-being over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    Adolescents who show heightened activation in the ventral striatum during eudaimonic decisions may show increases in the time they spend helping their family.

    “For example, adolescents who show heightened activation in the ventral striatum during eudaimonic decisions likely experience a sense of reward from supporting their family and may therefore show increases in the time they spend helping their family.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    A strong striatal response may be a risk factor in one context but a protective factor in another.

    “A strong striatal response may be a risk factor in one context but a protective factor in another.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation
    § Methods

    The internalizing symptoms subscale of the Youth Self-Report form of the Child Behavior Checklist is a widely used measure to examine depressive symptoms in youth.

    “Adolescents completed the internalizing symptoms subscale of the Youth Self-Report form of the Child Behavior Checklist (31), a widely used measure to examine depressive symptoms in youth.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [31] Achenbach TM. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: Univ of Vermont Department of Psychiatry; 1991. [Google Scholar]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation
    § Methods

    Analyzing adjusted pumps (number of pumps on balloons that did not explode) is preferable to examining pumps on balloons that did explode, because the number of pumps is necessarily constrained on balloons that explode.

    “For the pumps, we analyzed the adjusted pumps, which represent the number of pumps on balloons that did not explode. This approach is preferable to examining pumps on balloons that did explode, because the number of pumps is necessarily constrained on balloons that explode (30).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [30] Lejuez CW, et al. Evaluation of a behavioral measure of risk taking: The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) J Exp Psychol Appl. 2002;8(2):75–84. doi: 10.1037//1076-898x.8.2.75. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Discussion

    Adolescents who show heightened activation in the ventral striatum during eudaimonic decisions likely experience a sense of reward from supporting their family.

    “For example, adolescents who show heightened activation in the ventral striatum during eudaimonic decisions likely experience a sense of reward from supporting their family and may therefore show increases in the time they spend helping their family.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Methods

    The ventral striatum is a brain region that has consistently been associated with reward processing in adolescence.

    “At the group-level, we ran ROI analyses focusing on the ventral striatum, a brain region that has consistently been associated with reward processing in adolescence (7).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Galvan A, et al. Earlier development of the accumbens relative to orbitofrontal cortex might underlie risk-taking behavior in adolescents. J Neurosci. 2006;26(25):6885–6892. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1062-06.2006. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning
    § Methods

    The contrast between costly donation (CD) and pure reward (PR) trials allows focus on neural activation when making a donation to the family that involves self-sacrifice, a behavior that most closely approximates prosocial, eudaimonic behavior.

    “We focused on the contrast between CD and PR, which allowed us to focus on neural activation when making a donation to the family that involves self-sacrifice, a behavior that most closely approximates prosocial, eudaimonic behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation
    § Methods

    The Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) examines ventral striatum sensitivity to hedonic, risk-taking behaviors.

    “To examine ventral striatum sensitivity to hedonic, risk-taking behaviors, participants completed the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) (31).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [31] Achenbach TM. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: Univ of Vermont Department of Psychiatry; 1991. [Google Scholar]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Methods

    The number of inflations before explosion varied probabilistically according to a Poisson distribution, which models the unpredictable rewards and punishments that characterize real-world risky behaviors.

    “The number of inflations before explosion varied probabilistically according to a Poisson distribution, which models the unpredictable rewards and punishments that characterize real-world risky behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Methods

    In the same sample of participants, prosocial family donations and risky decisions engage the ventral striatum.

    “Moreover, we have previously reported in the same sample of participants using each of the tasks in the current study that prosocial family donations and risky decisions engage the ventral striatum (27, 35).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [27] Telzer EH, Fuligni AJ, Lieberman MD, Galván A. Ventral striatum activation to prosocial rewards predicts longitudinal declines in adolescent risk taking. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2013;3:45–52. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2012.08.004. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [35] Telzer EH, Fuligni AJ, Lieberman MD, Galván A. Meaningful family relationships: Neurocognitive buffers of adolescent risk taking. J Cogn Neurosci. 2013;25(3):374–387. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00331. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Methods

    The family donation and risk-taking tasks were completed in counterbalanced order across participants.

    “The family donation and risk-taking tasks were completed in counterbalanced order across participants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
40 of 40

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The experimental tasks validly capture real-world eudaimonic and hedonic rewards.

    “The hedonic decisions in this task did not involve risk or uncertainty and closely approximate basic hedonic pleasure to gain known rewards for the self.”
    “This task allowed us to examine hedonic pleasure to uncertain rewards for the self that closely approximate risk-taking in real life, when the probabilities of risk are unknown.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to test the differential roles of eudaimonic and hedonic sensitivity in youth.

    “In summary, to our knowledge this is the first study to test the differential roles of eudaimonic and hedonic sensitivity in youth.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Social value distance signals in prosocials may also relate to mentalizing about the needs of others, integrating social information into estimates of subjective value, and calculating altruistic values in the social brain network.

    “Social value distance signals in prosocials may also relate to mentalizing about the needs of others 36,37 , integrating social information into estimates of subjective value 40 , and calculating altruistic values 41 in the social brain network.”

    From Oxytocin modulates social value representations in the amygdala (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

  • Across dozens of neuroimaging studies of human adolescents, alterations in ventral striatum activation have been linked to negative outcomes including drug and alcohol use, depression, anxiety, susceptibility to peer influence, and conduct and rule-breaking behaviors.

    “across dozens of neuroimaging studies of human adolescents, alterations in ventral striatum activation have been linked to negative outcomes including drug and alcohol use (Jager et al., 2013), depression (Telzer et al., 2014, Silk et al., 2013), anxiety (Bar-Haim et al., 2009, Guyer et al., 2006), susceptibility to peer influence (Chein et al., 2010), and conduct and rule-breaking behaviors (Gal”

    From Dopaminergic reward sensitivity can promote adolescent health: a new perspective on the mechanism of ventral striatum activation (2016) · cites this paper as Telzer et al., 2014

  • Adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during prosocial decisions to their family experienced longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms over the course of the following year.

    “Results demonstrated that adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during prosocial decisions to their family experienced longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms over the course of the following year.”

    From Dopaminergic reward sensitivity can promote adolescent health: a new perspective on the mechanism of ventral striatum activation (2016) · cites this paper as Telzer et al., 2014

  • Adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation when keeping earnings for themselves on the prosocial task (i.e., selfish decisions) or who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during the risk taking task experienced longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.

    “In contrast, adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation when keeping earnings for themselves on the prosocial task (i.e., selfish decisions) or who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during the risk taking task experienced longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (Telzer et al., 2014).”

    From Dopaminergic reward sensitivity can promote adolescent health: a new perspective on the mechanism of ventral striatum activation (2016) · cites this paper as Telzer et al., 2014

  • Adolescents who showed the greatest ventral striatum activation when being prosocial showed the greatest declines in risk taking and depression.

    “Adolescents who showed the greatest ventral striatum activation when being prosocial showed the greatest declines in risk taking and depression (Telzer et al., 2013, Telzer et al., 2014);”

    From Dopaminergic reward sensitivity can promote adolescent health: a new perspective on the mechanism of ventral striatum activation (2016) · cites this paper as Telzer et al., 2014

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentr(39) = 0.68reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(39) = 0.68, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(37) = 1.78reported p = .084 · recomputed p = .083

    “t(37) = 1.78, p = .084”

2 of 2

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Balloon explosion points have two different stated distributions

    Major

    The task description says the number of inflations before explosion followed a Poisson distribution, then says each balloon's explosion point was drawn from a uniform distribution.

  • Follow-up attrition is overstated by one participant

    Minor

    The risk-taking analyses included 47 participants at T1 and 39 at T2, a difference of eight, not nine.

    Reported 9 · recomputed 8

  • Balloon task cites the depressive-symptoms reference

    Minor

    The task is cited as reference 31, but the reference list identifies the Balloon Analogue Risk Task in reference 30; reference 31 is the Child Behavior Checklist manual.

3 of 3

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Authors
Telzer, E. H., Fuligni, A. J., Lieberman, M. D., & Galván, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • Department of Psychology,
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2014-04-21
Volume
111
Issue
18
Pages
6600-6605
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1323014111
PMC
PMC4020059
OpenAlex
W2039872118
Semantic Scholar
b4a309c1236f5436d7e891dd220d1e143631000a
Cited by
183
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
8.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
hedonic reward, adolescent depression, depressive symptoms, ventral striatum, prosocial decision-making, risky decision making, meaning and purpose, well-being, longitudinal change in depression
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Basal Ganglia, Depression, Female, Happiness, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Reward, Risk Factors, Social Behavior, Pleasure

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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