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Regulatory Focus Modulates Reward-Related Neural Activity

Mowrer, Samantha M.

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Reward and motivation are inherently intertwined. Motivation is often reward-based, and specific motivational states can impact valuation and reward seeking. We argue that motivation serves to organize reward processing in the service of goal-directed activity. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the current study examined how regulatory focus, a motivational principle strongly coupled with reward, impacted neural reward processing. Participants were randomly assigned to promotion or prevention focus and then completed a reaction time task in which they could experience successful and unsuccessful outcomes of stimuli representing potential gains and losses. Results showed regulatory focus modulated activation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) consistent with cortical approach/avoidance lateralization, which suggests this region may differentially maintain approach and avoidance-related information for promotion and prevention focus. Regulatory focus also influenced a region of anterior but not posterior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Whereas posterior OFC responded to potentially rewarding stimuli, anterior OFC was sensitive to rewarding outcomes and regulatory focus. Specifically, promotion focus enhanced responsivity to successful outcomes in this region. Results are consistent with hypotheses suggesting posterior OFC generates computations of stimulus value, while more anterior regions integrate contextual and motivational information to provide a more nuanced valuation signal. Overall, these effects suggest motivation impacts reward processing in important ways, potentially directing subsequent processing in a top-down manner and giving rise to distinct behavioral outputs and subjective experiences.
William Cunningham, PhD (Advisor)
Gary Berntson, PhD (Committee Member)
Kentaro Fujita, PhD (Committee Member)
57 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mowrer, S. M. (2009). Regulatory Focus Modulates Reward-Related Neural Activity [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243952078

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mowrer, Samantha. Regulatory Focus Modulates Reward-Related Neural Activity. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243952078.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mowrer, Samantha. "Regulatory Focus Modulates Reward-Related Neural Activity." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243952078

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)