A pathway linking reward circuitry, impulsive sensation-seeking and risky decision-making in young adults: identifying neural markers for new interventions

• DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.60
• Publication Date: 2017-04-18T13:43:41Z
• Authors: H W Chase; J C Fournier; M A Bertocci; T Greenberg; H Aslam; R Stiffler; J Lockovich; S Graur; G Bebko; E E Forbes; M L Phillips
• Keywords: Sensation Seeking; Ventral striatum; Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; Iowa gambling task; Ventromedial prefrontal cortex; Sensation

High trait impulsive sensation seeking (ISS) is common in 18-25-year olds, and associated with risky decision-making deleterious outcomes. We examined relationships among: activity reward regions previously ISS during an ISS-relevant context, uncertain expectancy (RE), using fMRI; impulsivity sensation-seeking subcomponents; 100, transdiagnostically recruited olds. ISS, anhedonia, anxiety, depression mania were measured self-report scales; clinician-administered scales also assessed the latter four. A post-scan task 'risky' (possible win/loss/mixed/neutral) fMRI-task versus 'sure thing' stimuli. 'Bias' reflected over safe choices. Uncertain RE-related left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex bilateral ventral striatum was positively composite score, comprising sensation-seeking-fun-seeking subcomponents (ISSc; P⩽0.001). Bias seeking-experience (ES; P=0.003). This relationship moderated by ISSc (P=0.009): it evident only high individuals. Whole-brain analyses showed a positive between: cortical ISSc; visual attention motor preparation neural network ES; dorsal anterior cingulate bias, specifically participants (all ps<0.05, peak-level, family-wise error corrected). identify indirect pathway linking greater levels of reward, networks decision-making, via impulsivity, fun ES. These objective markers can guide new treatment developments for young adults this debilitating personality trait.