Role Of Reward Sensitivity Research Articles

Support from a Best Friend Makes People Eat Less under Stress: Evidence from Two Experiments.

When experiencing acute stress, individuals often turn to eating for comfort, as it provides a sense of satiety and satisfaction that can temporarily alleviate the stressful condition. However, this may increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. In this study, we conducted two behavioral experiments to investigate the effectiveness of social support in reducing stress-induced overeating and the mediative role of negative affect and self-efficacy (Experiment 1), as well as the role of reward sensitivity (Experiment 2). Acute stress was induced using a speech preparation task and then participants were asked to regulate their emotions and cognition, either alone or with the help of pictures and supportive sentences provided by a best friend or stranger. Participants in Experiment 1 then completed the food choice task, and participants in Experiment 2 completed the food incentive delay task and the bogus tasting task. The results of both experiments consistently showed that participants who received support from their friends reported lower levels of perceived stress, chose fewer food portions, and consumed fewer snacks during acute stress, compared to the other three groups. Further mediation analysis using the process macro revealed that the differential influence of social support on the choice of high-calorie foods was due to decreased negative affect and increased self-efficacy. This study provides valuable insights for the development of therapeutic interventions for clinical eating disorders.

Considering the role of reward sensitivity in the relationship between early adversity and sexual behaviour

Many individuals in the United States will experience some form of abuse or neglect before the age of 18. Exposure to such adversities earlier in life can predict greater sexual risk engagement such as high sexual partner number. While the research examining the influence of early adversity on sexual behaviour is vast, we have yet to fully understand why this association exists. In the present manuscript we attempt to shed light on potential predictors and moderators of this association and offer suggestions for future research. Specifically, we begin with a brief review of the existing research pertaining to early adversity and sexual risk taking. Then, we outline potentially important moderators to consider such as impulsivity, sensation seeking, and reward sensitivity.

The role of reward sensitivity and childhood maltreatment in predicting nonsuicidal self-injury.

Findings from prior research on reward sensitivity in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) have been mixed. Childhood maltreatment is an independent risk factor for NSSI and for hyposensitivity to rewards. This study aimed to disentangle the role of reward sensitivity as a predictor of NSSI for those with an elevated severity of childhood maltreatment. In a diverse undergraduate sample (N=586), trait reward sensitivity (i.e., behavioral approach system subscales) and the severity of maltreatment were assessed as predictors of a lifetime history of NSSI. In a subset of this sample (n=51), predictors of NSSI urge intensity were measured using ecological momentary assessment. Individuals with elevated maltreatment who reported less positive responsiveness to rewards were more likely to have a lifetime history of NSSI. Those with elevated maltreatment who reported a lower likelihood to approach rewards experienced more intense NSSI urges across the ten-day observation period. However, those with elevated maltreatment who reported a greater likelihood to approach rewards experienced less intense NSSI urges. The role of reward sensitivity as a cognitive risk factor for NSSI varies depending on childhood maltreatment history. Findings indicate that, for those with elevated maltreatment, hypersensitivity to approaching rewards may decrease risk for NSSI urges.

The role of reward sensitivity in obesity and its association with Transcription Factor AP-2B: A longitudinal birth cohort study

ObjectiveOne factor potentially contributing to obesity is reward sensitivity. We investigated the association between reward sensitivity and measures of obesity from 9–33 years of age, paying attention to the inner structure of reward sensitivity. MethodsThe sample included both birth cohorts (originally n = 1176) of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study. The association between reward sensitivity and measures of obesity was assessed using mixed-effects regression models. Associations at ages 9 (younger cohort only), 15, 18, 25 and 33 (older cohort) years were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The indirect effect of the gene encoding transcription factor 2 beta (TFAP2B) on obesity through reward sensitivity was tested using mediation analysis. ResultsAccording to linear mixed effects regression models, an increase in scores of Insatiability by Reward and both of its components, Excessive Spending and Giving in to Cravings, significantly increased body weight, body mass index, sum of five skinfolds, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-to-height ratio from 15 to 25 years of age. Findings were similar at age 9 and 33 years. In contrast, no association between obesity and Openness to Rewards or its facets was observed. The TFAP2B genotype was also associated with fixation to rewards in females, but not with striving towards reward multiplicity. ConclusionOur results suggest that reward sensitivity is associated with obesity by its reward fixation component. The heterogeneity of the reward sensitivity construct should be taken into account in studies on body composition.

The Role of Reward Sensitivity and Impulsivity in Overeating and Food Addiction

This paper reviews the contribution of individual differences in two personality traits linked to addiction and over-consumption—impulsivity and reward sensitivity—in the context of overeating and food addiction. There has been a rapid increase in the number of studies into overeating with a specific focus of late on food addiction. This review found trait impulsivity to be consistently associated with overeating and food addiction, while reward sensitivity has met with mixed results. While associated with overeating and food-cued cravings, reward sensitivity is less frequently associated with food addiction. The inclusion of impulsivity-related traits has gathered momentum in recent years adding additional understanding of individual factors that play roles in overeating that may lead to more severe overeating and obesity. Greater research is now required to determine the processes by which trait impulsivity and reward sensitivity lead to overeating behaviours.

Weight gain after STN-DBS: The role of reward sensitivity and impulsivity

Weight gain has been reported after deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS), a widely used treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). This nucleus has been repeatedly found to be linked both to reward and to inhibitory control, two key aspects in the control of food intake. In this study, we assessed whether weight gain experienced by patients with PD after STN-DBS, might be due to an alteration of reward and inhibitory functions. Eighteen patients with PD were compared to eighteen healthy controls and tested three times: before surgery, in ON medication and after surgery, respectively five days after the implantation in ON medication/OFF stimulation and at least three months after surgery in ON medication/ON stimulation. All participants were assessed for depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale) and impulsiveness (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale). They performed a battery of tests assessing food reward sensitivity (Liking, Wanting and Preference) and a food go/no-go task. Results showed that body weight significantly increased after STN-DBS. A few days after surgery, patients were slower and more impulsive in the go/no-go task, showed a higher preference for high calorie (HC) foods and rated foods as less tasty. Months after subthalamic stimulation, the performance on the go/no-go task improved while no differences were observed in reward sensitivity. Interestingly, weight gain resulted greater in patients with higher levels of attentional impulsiveness pre-surgery, higher wanting for low calorie (LC) foods and impulsivity in the go/no-go task in ON medication/ON stimulation. However, only wanting and attentional impulsivity significantly predicted weight change. Furthermore, weight gain resulted associated with the reduction of l-Dopa after surgery and disease's duration. In conclusion, our findings are consistent with the view that weight gain in PD after STN-DBS has a multifactorial nature, which reflects the complex functional organization of the STN.

Strategies to improve the willingness to taste: the moderating role of reward sensitivity

Purpose We investigated the effectiveness of different reward strategies and the role of reward sensitivity (RS) in willingness to taste (WtT) an unliked vegetable. The innovative part of this research lies in the combination of behavioral techniques and individual differences, and in the focus on WtT instead of change in liking. We consider WtT to be a crucial first step in the process of liking healthy food. Methods Preschool children (n=132, 53% boys, age: M=4.51, SD=1.07) participated in a single-tasting experiment with unliked vegetables. They were randomly allocated to one of five different reward strategies: encouragement, modeling (adult), modeling (puppet), token, and modeling+token. Using logistic regression, we tested the effect of reward strategies and RS on WtT (did not taste, hesitated to taste, and tasted immediately) and the moderating role of RS, indexed via the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Approach System Scales. Results We found no main effect of reward strategies (p > .1) or RS (p > .1) indicating that WtT was not dependent on reward strategy or RS. However, we found an interaction effect between reward strategy and RS (p < .05): children with a higher RS were more likely to taste in the token strategy. Discussion Rewarding is known as an effective technique to increase the consumption of healthy food. The present study suggests a differential effect of reward strategies depending on individual differences (i.e. RS). Focusing on both individual differences and behavioural techniques (i.e. reward strategies) might be a promising strategy for health promotion.

Reward Sensitivity, Punishment Sensitivity and weight status in children. Crosssectional and longitudinal associations.

Understanding eating behavior is not possible without studying individual reward circuits. Reward Sensitivity (RS) and Punishment Sensitivity (PS) are psychological concepts reflecting sensitivity of the neurological Behavioral Approach (BAS) and Inhibition (BIS) Systems respectively (Gray, 1987). Under normal circumstances, BIS and BAS independently drive behavior, but in extreme cases, one overactive system suppresses the other (Corr, 2001, 2002; Vervoort, Wolters, Hogendoorn, de Haan, Boer, & Prins, 2010). While research provides evidence for the role of RS and PS in several behaviors and psychological problems, little is known about their implications for eating behavior and obesity. Cross-sectional studies in adults (Davis & Fox, 2008) and children (Verbeken, Braet, Lammertyn, Goossens & Moens, 2012) support a dynamic vulnerability model of the association between self-reported RS and bodyweight. We extend this research, by describing cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between RS and measured bodyweight and exploring the role of PS in the association between RS and bodyweight. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of RS and weight outcomes are tested by fitting quadratic regression models of RS on weight measures, controlling for gender and age effects. The cross-sectional associations are studied in a Flemish sample of 10–15 year olds, the longitudinal associations are studied in Dutch youngsters participating in the TRAILS study.

Positive Attentional Bias, Attachment Style, and Susceptibility to Peer Influence

Susceptibility to peer influence may be related to activation in reward‐related brain regions. The current study extends research on the role of reward sensitivity in peer influence by examining whether preferential attention to positive emotional stimuli predicts behavior in peer interactions, and whether this association is moderated by attachment style in a sample of 36 same‐sex peer dyads. Positive attentional bias was associated with lower autonomy and greater avoidance with peers. This association was attenuated among individuals with secure attachment style. Attention to negative stimuli was associated with less avoidant and more hostile behavior during peer interactions. Results suggest that preferential attention to positive emotional stimuli is associated with greater susceptibility to peer influence, particularly in individuals low in secure attachment.

The role of reward sensitivity in successful weight maintenance in non-obese young women

Trait sensitivity to rewards may predict risk of unhealthy behaviours, including overeating, binge eating and obesity. We investigated associations between weight maintenance in young women, and measures of reward sensitivity, both general and food-related, and of response bias. We hypothesised that successful weight maintenance would be associated with lower reward sensitivity, less responsiveness to food reward and less positive response bias. Sixty-four non-obese (mean BMI = 22.5) women, aged 18–35 years, took part in a survey of dieting and weight history as well as completing questionnaires on eating behaviour (TFEQ-R18 v2; Power of Food Scale (PFS); Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ)) and reward/punishment sensitivity (SPSRQ). They also completed a computer-based trial-and-error learning task that generates a response bias coefficient (RBC) indicating the extent to which participants are biased towards positive reinforcement (A. McNamara, University of Surrey). From the survey on dieting and weight history, 10 items were selected to form a ‘successful weight maintenance’ scale, after standardising scores for each item. Associations between this measure and the others were examined by Spearman’s correlations. Successful weight maintenance was negatively correlated with BMI ( ρ = − 0.64), reward sensitivity ( ρ = − 0.48) (not to punishment), RBC ( ρ = − 0.28), all 3 PFS subscales ( ρ = − 0.40 to ρ = − 0.50), all trait subscales of the FCQ except ‘anticipation’ (positive and negative) and ‘negative affect’: similarly, restrained and uncontrolled eating were negatively related ( ρ = − 0.47 and − 0.52, respectively), but not emotional eating. In young women, successful weight maintenance may depend on resistance to positive reinforcement.

Future Time Orientation and Temperament: Exploration of Their Relationship to Primary and Secondary Psychopathy

The present study combines Lykken's theory about the role of reward sensitivity and punishment insensitivity in the development of antisocial behavior with Gjesme's theory of future time orientation. 158 adolescents comprised a target group of 79 adolescents who had defined behavioral problems and a matched referential group of 79 adolescents who did not have notable behavioral problems. The results suggest that attributes related to primary psychopathy are associated with a relatively weak or hyporeactive behavioral inhibition system, behavioral approach reactivity, and low future time orientation. Moreover, attributes related to secondary psychopathy are related to an overly sensitive (hyper-reactive) behavioral approach system and low future time orientation. Robust positive associations for behavioral approach reactivity and low future time orientation with primary and secondary psychopathy suggest that high behavioral approach/low future time orientation may represent a core feature common to the two factors of psychopathy.