BACKGROUND: High trait impulsive sensation seeking (ISS), the tendency to engage in behavior without forethought and to seek out new or extreme experiences, is a transdiagnostic risk factor for externalizing and mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. We published a positive association between trait ISS and reward expectancy-related activity in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (L vlPFC) and the ventral striatum. We aimed to replicate this finding and extend it by testing for mediation effects of ISS on relationships between reward expectancy-related activity and measures denoting hypomania. METHODS: A transdiagnostic sample of 127 adults, 18 to 25 years of age, completed a card-guessing functional magnetic resonance imaging task as well as measures of ISS (inattention, motor impulsivity, fun seeking, positive and negative urgency) and the Moods Spectrum as a measure of hypomania. An original sample of 98 was included for confirmatory and mediation analyses. RESULTS: We replicated a positive relationship between reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity and negative urgency, an ISS component (β = .28, t = 2.44, p = .0169). We combined these data with the original sample, confirming this finding (β = .27, t = 2.41, p = .0184). Negative urgency statistically mediated the relationship between reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity and Moods Spectrum factors associated with hypomania. No other associations between ISS measures and reward expectancy-related activity were replicated. CONCLUSIONS: We replicated findings showing that reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity is a biomarker for negative urgency, the tendency to react with frustration during distressing conditions. Negative urgency also statistically mediated the relationship between L vlPFC activity and measures indicative of hypomanic symptoms.
BACKGROUND: High trait impulsive sensation seeking (ISS), the tendency to engage in behavior without forethought and to seek out new or extreme experiences, is a transdiagnostic risk factor for externalizing and mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. We published a positive association between trait ISS and reward expectancy-related activity in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (L vlPFC) and the ventral striatum. We aimed to replicate this finding and extend it by testing for mediation effects of ISS on relationships between reward expectancy-related activity and measures denoting hypomania. METHODS: A transdiagnostic sample of 127 adults, 18 to 25 years of age, completed a card-guessing functional magnetic resonance imaging task as well as measures of ISS (inattention, motor impulsivity, fun seeking, positive and negative urgency) and the Moods Spectrum as a measure of hypomania. An original sample of 98 was included for confirmatory and mediation analyses. RESULTS: We replicated a positive relationship between reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity and negative urgency, an ISS component (β = .28, t = 2.44, p = .0169). We combined these data with the original sample, confirming this finding (β = .27, t = 2.41, p = .0184). Negative urgency statistically mediated the relationship between reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity and Moods Spectrum factors associated with hypomania. No other associations between ISS measures and reward expectancy-related activity were replicated. CONCLUSIONS: We replicated findings showing that reward expectancy-related L vlPFC activity is a biomarker for negative urgency, the tendency to react with frustration during distressing conditions. Negative urgency also statistically mediated the relationship between L vlPFC activity and measures indicative of hypomanic symptoms.
Authors: A González-Pinto; J Ballesteros; A Aldama; J L Pérez de Heredia; M Gutierrez; F Mosquera; A González-Pinto Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Philippe Conus; Janine Ward; Karen T Hallam; Nellie Lucas; Craig Macneil; Patrick D McGorry; Michael Berk Journal: Bipolar Disord Date: 2008-07 Impact factor: 6.744
Authors: Manpreet K Singh; Ryan G Kelley; Meghan E Howe; Allan L Reiss; Ian H Gotlib; Kiki D Chang Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 21.596
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 Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2017-04-18 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Xavier Caseras; Natalia S Lawrence; Kevin Murphy; Richard G Wise; Mary L Phillips Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Caterina Vannucci; Michael B Bonsall; Martina Di Simplicio; Aimee Cairns; Emily A Holmes; Stephanie Burnett Heyes Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2022-10-19 Impact factor: 7.989
Authors: Kristen L Eckstrand; Erika E Forbes; Michele A Bertocci; Henry W Chase; Tsafrir Greenberg; Jeanette Lockovich; Ricki Stiffler; Haris A Aslam; Simona Graur; Genna Bebko; Mary L Phillips Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2020-11-25 Impact factor: 13.382