Neural response to reward anticipation in depression

Abstract

The ability to anticipate reward is essential for selecting adaptive behavior based on their personal value. Recent findings indicate dysfunctional reward processing in depression. In this paper, we will introduce our findings on this issue. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we first investigated neural response of major depressive disorder/subthreshold depression using the monetary incentive delay task. As a result, the subjects with major depressive disorder exhibited dysfunction in modulating striatal activity in accordance with the size of the reward. In addition, individuals with subthreshold depression showed neurofunctional changes in the fronto‐parietal region. Besides, these changes were modulated after successful intervention by antidepressant or psychotherapy. Lastly, we proposed novel models to predict the activation of the striatum during reward anticipation by resting‐functional magnetic resonance imaging data.