Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Wacker, 2009 PubMed |
| Full Info | Wacker, J., Dillon, D.G. and Pizzagalli, D.A. (2009) The role of the nucleus accumbens and rostral anterior cingulate cortex in anhedonia: integration of resting EEG, fMRI, and volumetric techniques. Neuroimage, 46, 327-337.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Anhedonia, the reduced propensity to experience pleasure, is a promising endophenotype and vulnerability factor for several psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia.
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| Sample Information | non-clinical sample |
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| Method Detail | In the present study, we used resting electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and volumetric analyses to probe putative associations between anhedonia and individual differences in key nodes of the brain's reward system in a non-clinical sample. |
| Method Keywords | electroencephalogram (EEG); functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) |
| Result | We found that anhedonia, but not other symptoms of depression or anxiety, was correlated with reduced nucleus accumbens (NAcc) responses to rewards (gains in a monetary incentive delay task), reduced NAcc volume, and increased resting delta current density (i.e., decreased resting activity) in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), an area previously implicated in positive subjective experience. In addition, NAcc reward responses were inversely associated with rACC resting delta activity, supporting the hypothesis that delta might be lawfully related to activity within the brain's reward circuit. |
| Conclusions | Taken together, these results help elucidate the neural basis of anhedonia and strengthen the argument for anhedonia as an endophenotype for depression. |
Relationships reported by
Wacker, 2009
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
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Anhedonia (anhedonia)
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symptoms |
Delta wave (delta current density) |
neurobiological system |
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Anhedonia was correlated with increased resting delta current density (i.e., decreased resting activity) in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
rostral anterior cingulate (rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Anhedonia was correlated with increased resting delta current density (i.e., decreased resting activity) in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
Nucleus accumbens (nucleus accumbens (NAcc)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Anhedonia was correlated with reduced nucleus accumbens (NAcc) responses to rewards (gains in a monetary incentive delay task). |
Positive
|
|
rostral anterior cingulate (rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC))
|
brain morphology and function |
Delta wave (delta current density) |
neurobiological system |
|
Anhedonia was correlated with increased resting delta current density (i.e., decreased resting activity) in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). |
Positive
|
