Neural signals of ‘intensity’ but not ‘wanting’ or ‘liking’ of rewards may be trait markers for depression

Abstract

We have shown previously that participants ‘at risk’ of depression have decreased neural processing of reward suggesting this might be a neural biomarker for depression. However, how the neural signal related to subjective experiences of reward (wanting, liking, intensity) might differ as trait markers for depression is as yet unknown. Using SPM8 parametric modulation analysis the neural signal related to the subjective report of wanting, liking and intensity was compared between 25 young people with a biological parent with depression (FH) and 25 age/gender matched controls. In a second study the neural signal related to the subjective report of wanting, liking and intensity was compared between 13 unmedicated recovered depressed (RD) patients and 14 healthy age/gender matched controls. The analysis revealed differences in the neural signal for wanting, liking and intensity ratings in the ventral striatum, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and caudate respectively in the RD group compared with controls. Despite no differences in the FH group’s neural signal for wanting and liking there was a difference in the neural signal for intensity ratings in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula compared with controls. These results suggest that the neural substrates tracking the intensity but not the wanting or liking for rewards and punishers might be a trait marker for depression.