Abstract
High trait impulsive sensation seeking (ISS) is common in 18–25-year olds, and is associated with risky decision-making and deleterious outcomes. We examined relationships among: activity in reward regions previously associated with ISS during an ISS-relevant context, uncertain reward expectancy (RE), using fMRI; ISS impulsivity and sensation-seeking subcomponents; and risky decision-making in 100, transdiagnostically recruited 18–25-year olds. ISS, anhedonia, anxiety, depression and mania were measured using self-report scales; clinician-administered scales also assessed the latter four. A post-scan risky decision-making task measured ‘risky’ (possible win/loss/mixed/neutral) fMRI-task versus ‘sure thing’ stimuli. ‘Bias’ reflected risky over safe choices. Uncertain RE-related activity in left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral ventral striatum was positively associated with an ISS composite score, comprising impulsivity and sensation-seeking–fun-seeking subcomponents (ISSc; P⩽0.001). Bias positively associated with sensation seeking–experience seeking (ES; P=0.003). This relationship was moderated by ISSc (P=0.009): it was evident only in high ISSc individuals. Whole-brain analyses showed a positive relationship between: uncertain RE-related left ventrolateral prefrontal cortical activity and ISSc; uncertain RE-related visual attention and motor preparation neural network activity and ES; and uncertain RE-related dorsal anterior cingulate cortical activity and bias, specifically in high ISSc participants (all ps<0.05, peak-level, family-wise error corrected). We identify an indirect pathway linking greater levels of uncertain RE-related activity in reward, visual attention and motor networks with greater risky decision-making, via positive relationships with impulsivity, fun seeking and ES. These objective neural markers of high ISS can guide new treatment developments for young adults with high levels of this debilitating personality trait.
Highlights
Impulsive sensation seeking (ISS) is a personality trait comprising the component traits of impulsivity, behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection or consideration of the consequences, and often prematurely elicited;[1] and sensation seeking, the tendency and willingness to seek, and take risks for, novel and intense sensations and experiences.[2]
Four elastic net regression models were run, modeling reward expectancy (RE)-related activity extracted from left vlPFC, and bilateral ventral striatum (VS) and the mean of all three regions (Table 2)
Given that the ISS five measures were positively correlated with each other (Supplementary Table S9), we combined these impulsivity subcomponents into a single variable (ISS composite: ‘impulsivity and sensation-seeking–fun-seeking subcomponents (ISSc)’) by z-transforming each and averaging them
Summary
Impulsive sensation seeking (ISS) is a personality trait comprising the component traits of impulsivity, behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection or consideration of the consequences, and often prematurely elicited;[1] and sensation seeking, the tendency and willingness to seek, and take risks for, novel and intense sensations and experiences.[2]. Other studies reported positive associations between VS activity during RE and higher levels of positive arousal (including fun seeking);[36] greater lateral prefrontal cortical (extending into ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, vlPFC) activity in high ISS vs low ISS adolescents to wins versus non-wins;[37] elevated VS activity during RE in high versus low impulsive adults38), and in adults with high versus low reward sensitivity, as measured by the BAS;[39] as well as a positive association between amygdala and ventral anterior cingulate cortical activity during expectancy of reward and impulsivity.[40] We reported greater activity in left vlPFC and VS during uncertain RE in individuals with BD type I (BDI) in remission.[41] other studies reported abnormally elevated left vlPFC activity to reward in healthy youth at risk of BD,[42] and in mania;[43] and elevated VS activity during RE in adults with bipolar disorder.[44] Together, these studies suggest that neural regions
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