Extraversion but not Depression Predicts Implicit Reward Sensitivity: Revisiting the Measurement of Anhedonic Phenotypes
Scott D. Blain, Tyler A. Sassenberg, Muchen Xi, Daiqing Zhao, & Colin G. DeYoung
Abstract
Recently, increasing efforts have been made to define and measure dimensional phenotypes associated
with psychiatric disorders. One example is an implicit reward learning task developed by Pizzagalli et
al. (2005) to assess anhedonia, by measuring participants’ responses to a differential reinforcement
schedule. This task has been used in many studies, which have connected blunted reward response in
the task to depressive symptoms, across clinical groups and in the general population. The current
study attempted to replicate these findings in a large community sample and also investigated possible
associations with Extraversion, a personality trait linked theoretically and empirically to reward
sensitivity. Participants (N = 299) completed the reward-learning task, as well as the Beck Depression
Inventory, Personality Inventory for the DSM-5, Big Five Inventory, and Big Five Aspect Scales. Our
direct replication attempts used bivariate analyses of observed variables and ANOVA models. Followup and extension analyses used structural equation models to assess relations among latent reward
sensitivity, depression, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. No significant associations were found between
reward sensitivity (i.e., response bias) and depression, thus failing to replicate previous findings.
Response bias and change in response bias showed significant positive associations with Extraversion,
but not with Neuroticism. Findings suggest reward sensitivity as measured by this implicit reward
learning task may be related primarily to Extraversion and its pathological manifestations, rather than
to depression per se, consistent with existing models that conceptualize depressive symptoms as
combining features of Neuroticism and low Extraversion.
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