Perseverative cognition alters the functionality of positive valence systems: an investigation with a multimodal approach

Growing evidence suggests that perseverative cognition (PC), a form of cognition characterized by repetitive, intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts, is a transdiagnostic risk factor for different psychiatric disorders. Although PC characterizes both hypo-motivational (e.g., depression) and hyper-motivational (e.g., addiction) disorders, it has been almost exclusively studied within the context of the negative valence systems and only anecdotal evidence exists about its effects on reward processing. The present study combined laboratory-based, computational and ecological assessments with the aim to fill this gap. Psychiatrically healthy individuals performed the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) before and after the experimental induction of PC (n = 22) or a waiting period (n = 24). The effects of PC on reward sensitivity and learning rate were dissociated by means of computational modeling. All participants then underwent a one-week Ecological Momentary Assessment of everyday occurrence of PC, as well as anticipatory and consummatory reward-related behavior. Increased response bias on the PRT appeared in response to the induction of PC (versus waiting), likely due to an increase in learning rate but not in reward sensitivity, as suggested by computational modeling. Daily episodes of PC increased the discrepancy between expected and obtained reward (reward prediction error). The current converging experimental and ecological evidence advises toward the value of investigating neurobiological alterations underpinning reward processing dysfunctions during PC as well as toward the implementation of ad hoc interventions to normalize positive valence systems dysfunctionality.