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Intact striatal dopaminergic modulation of reward learning and daily-life reward-oriented behavior in first-degree relatives of individuals with psychotic disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2017

Zuzana Kasanova*
Affiliation:
Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven – Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
Jenny Ceccarini
Affiliation:
Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Imaging & Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Michael J. Frank
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, USA
Thérèse van Amelsvoort
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Jan Booij
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Esther van Duin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Henrietta Steinhart
Affiliation:
Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven – Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Thomas Vaessen
Affiliation:
Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven – Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Alexander Heinzel
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Felix Mottaghy
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Inez Myin-Germeys
Affiliation:
Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven – Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
*
Author for correspondence: Zuzana Kasanova, E-mail: zuzana.kasanova@kuleuven.be

Abstract

Background

Abnormalities in reward learning in psychotic disorders have been proposed to be linked to dysregulated subcortical dopaminergic (DA) neurotransmission, which in turn is a suspected mechanism for predisposition to psychosis. We therefore explored the striatal dopaminergic modulation of reward processing and its behavioral correlates in individuals at familial risk for psychosis.

Methods

We performed a DA D2/3 receptor [18F]fallypride positron emission tomography scan during a probabilistic reinforcement learning task in 16 healthy first-degree relatives of patients with psychosis and 16 healthy volunteers, followed by a 6-day ecological momentary assessment study capturing reward-oriented behavior in the everyday life.

Results

We detected significant reward-induced DA release in bilateral caudate, putamen and ventral striatum of both groups, with no group differences in its magnitude nor spatial extent. In both groups alike, greater extent of reward-induced DA release in all regions of interest was associated with better performance in the task, as well as in greater tendency to be engaged in reward-oriented behavior in the daily life.

Conclusions

These findings suggest intact striatal dopaminergic modulation of reinforcement learning and reward-oriented behavior in individuals with familial predisposition to psychosis. Furthermore, this study points towards a key link between striatal reward-related DA release and pursuit of ecologically relevant rewards.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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