Nucleus accumbens mediates relative motivation for rewards in the absence of choice
Genre
Journal ArticleDate
2011-01-01Author
Clithero, JAReeck, C
Mckell Carter, R
Smith, DV
Huettel, SA
Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/5522
Metadata
Show full item recordDOI
10.3389/fnhum.2011.00087Abstract
To dissociate a choice from its antecedent neural states, motivation associated with the expected outcome must be captured in the absence of choice. Yet, the neural mechanisms that mediate behavioral idiosyncrasies in motivation, particularly with regard to complex economic preferences, are rarely examined in situations without overt decisions. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging in a large sample of participants while they anticipated earning rewards from two different modalities: monetary and candy rewards. An index for relative motivation toward different reward types was constructed using reaction times to the target for earning rewards. Activation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and anterior insula (aINS) predicted individual variation in relative motivation between our reward modalities. NAcc activation, however, mediated the effects of aINS, indicating the NAcc is the likely source of this relative weighting. These results demonstrate that neural idiosyncrasies in reward efficacy exist even in the absence of explicit choices, and extend the role of NAcc as a critical brain region for such choice-free motivation. © 2011 Clithero, Reeck, Carter, Smith and Huettel.Citation to related work
Frontiers Media SAHas part
Frontiers in Human NeuroscienceADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.eduae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/5504