Intolerance of uncertainty and insula activation during uncertain reward

Gorka, Stephanie M.; Nelson, Brady D.; Phan, K. Luan; Shankman, Stewart A.

doi:10.3758/s13415-016-0443-2

Cited by 55Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Intolerance of uncertainty and insula activation during uncertain reward

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Gorka, Stephanie M., Nelson, Brady D., Phan, K. Luan, Shankman, Stewart A.·2016·Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience

DOI 10.3758/s13415-016-0443-2

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Abstract

Individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty (IU) have been shown to exhibit abnormal threat responding, which may be mediated by hyperactive anterior insula (aINS) response to uncertainty. Research has indicated that individuals with high IU also exhibit abnormal positive valence responding, suggesting that IU may impact responding to uncertainty regardless of the valence of the potential outcome. To date, no study has investigated the neural processes associated with IU and response to uncertain positive stimuli, such as rewards. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the association between individual differences in IU and neural activation during uncertain reward using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-seven adults completed a self-report measure of IU and a reward task during fMRI. Consistent with the threat literature, greater IU was associated with increased aINS activation during uncertain reward. This association was more robust for the prospective IU subscale, a dimension characterized by worry about future events. Together with prior studies, these findings provide evidence that IU is related to abnormal threat and reward responding, and that these deficits may be similarly linked to hyperactive aINS response to uncertainty.

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Individuals with higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty exhibit greater anterior insula activation when reward is uncertain.
“those with higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty exhibit greater anterior insula activation when reward is uncertain (Gorka et al., 2016).”
From Atypical interoception as a common risk factor for psychopathology: A review (2021) · cites this paper as Gorka et al., 2016
Studies that have examined both reward and threat cue processing suggest highly overlapping neurobiological and psychological processing abnormalities in anxiety disorders that may generally encompass the attribution of value and recruitment of attention to valenced cues, rather than just threat cues.
“The studies that have examined both reward and threat cue processing do suggest highly overlapping neurobiological and psychological processing abnormalities in anxiety disorders that may generally encompass the attribution of value and recruitment of attention to valenced cues, rather than just threat cues (Gorka, Nelson, Phan, & Shankman, 2016; Tanovic et al., 2018).”
From Cued for Risk: Evidence for an Incentive Sensitization Framework to Explain the Interplay between Stress and Anxiety, Substance Abuse, and Reward Uncertainty in Disordered Gambling Behavior (2019) · cites this paper as Gorka, Nelson, Phan, & Shankman, 2016
Uncertain rewards, similar to threats, result in increased insula responsivity in humans.
“In particular, one human study demonstrated that uncertain rewards, similar to threats, result in increased insula responsivity (Gorka et al., 2016).”
From Cued for Risk: Evidence for an Incentive Sensitization Framework to Explain the Interplay between Stress and Anxiety, Substance Abuse, and Reward Uncertainty in Disordered Gambling Behavior (2019) · cites this paper as Gorka et al., 2016

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Authors: Gorka, S. M., Nelson, B. D., Phan, K. L., & Shankman, S. A.
Affiliations: University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Stony Brook University (US)
Corresponding author: Shankman, Stewart A.
ORCID: Gorka, Stephanie M.
Nelson, Brady D.
Phan, K. Luan
Shankman, Stewart A.
Venue: Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2016-07-12
Volume: 16
Issue: 5
Pages: 929-939
ISSN: 1530-7026 (ISSN-L)
1531-135X
DOI: 10.3758/s13415-016-0443-2
OpenAlex: W2471183326
Cited by: 55
References: 54
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1
FWCI: 1.91
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (unspecified)
Locations: Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (R21 MH080689)
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords: intolerance of uncertainty, anterior insula, reward processing, individual differences, neuronal activation, positive valence
MeSH terms: Adult, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Female, Humans, Individuality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Personality Tests, Reward, Uncertainty, Self Report

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Intolerance of uncertainty and insula activation during uncertain reward

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