Neural response to reward and pathological personality dimensions

The neural response to reward has been implicated in internalizing psychopathology. The reward positivity (RewP), an event-related potential indicator of reinforcement learning and reward sensitivity, is blunted in individuals at risk for and currently experiencing depression. Recent evidence also suggests the RewP is enhanced in individuals with anxiety-based psychopathology. These findings suggest that the RewP may be associated with traits that underlie internalizing psychopathology, rather than solely reflecting current symptoms or diagnoses. The present study examined whether the RewP is associated with pathological personality dimensions relevant to internalizing psychopathology. A sample of 496 18–35-year-olds (70.9% female; 41% Caucasian) completed the doors task while we recorded electroencephalography to measure the RewP and a self-report measure of negative emotionality and detachment psychopathology dimensions and lower-order facet traits. Greater detachment was associated with a smaller RewP. In contrast, greater negative emotionality was associated with a larger RewP. The present study suggests that pathological personality dimensions involved in internalizing psychopathology demonstrate distinct and opposing relationships with the RewP.