Threat- and reward-related brain circuitry, perceived stress, and anxiety in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal investigation.

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic led to heightened anxiety in adolescents. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) are implicated in response to stress and may contribute to anxiety. The role of threat- and reward-related circuitry in adolescent anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, is not clear. Ninety-nine adolescents underwent resting-state fMRI ∼1 year before the pandemic. Following shelter-in-place orders, adolescents reported their perceived stress and, 1 month later, their anxiety. Generalized multivariate analyses identified BLA and NAcc seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity maps with perceived stress. In the resulting significant clusters, we examined the association between seed-based connectivityand subsequent anxiety. Perceived stress was associated with bilateral BLA and NAcc connectivity across distributed clusters that included prefrontal, limbic, temporal, and cerebellar regions. Several NAcc connectivity clusters located in ventromedial prefrontal, parahippocampal, and temporal cortices were positively associated with anxiety; NAcc connectivity with the inferior frontal gyrus was negatively associated. BLA connectivity was not associated with anxiety. These results underscore the integrative role of the NAcc in responding to acute stressors and its relation to anxiety in adolescents. Elucidating the involvement of subcortical-cortical circuitry in adolescents' capacity to respond adaptively to environmental challenges can inform treatment for anxiety-related disorders.

Modulation of habenular and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity by ketamine in major depression.

INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with dysfunctional reward processing, which involves functional circuitry of the habenula (Hb) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Since ketamine elicits rapid antidepressant and antianhedonic effects in MDD, this study sought to investigate how serial ketamine infusion (SKI) treatment modulates static and dynamic functional connectivity (FC) in Hb and NAc functional networks. METHODS: MDD participants (n = 58, mean age = 40.7 years, female = 28) received four ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) 2-3 times weekly. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans and clinical assessments were collected at baseline and 24 h post-SKI. Static FC (sFC) and dynamic FC variability (dFCv) were calculated from left and right Hb and NAc seeds to all other brain regions. Changes in FC pre-to-post SKI, and correlations with changes with mood and anhedonia were examined. Comparisons of FC between patients and healthy controls (HC) at baseline (n = 55, mean age = 32.6, female = 31), and between HC assessed twice (n = 16) were conducted as follow-up analyses. RESULTS: Following SKI, significant increases in left Hb-bilateral visual cortex FC, decreases in left Hb-left inferior parietal cortex FC, and decreases in left NAc-right cerebellum FC occurred. Decreased dFCv between left Hb and right precuneus and visual cortex, and decreased dFCv between right NAc and right visual cortex both significantly correlated with improvements in mood ratings. Decreased FC between left Hb and bilateral visual/parietal cortices as well as increased FC between left NAc and right visual/parietal cortices both significantly correlated with improvements in anhedonia. No differences were observed between HC at baseline or over time. CONCLUSION: Subanesthetic ketamine modulates functional pathways linking the Hb and NAc with visual, parietal, and cerebellar regions in MDD. Overlapping effects between Hb and NAc functional systems were associated with ketamine's therapeutic response.

Effect of positive social comparative feedback on the resting state connectivity of dopaminergic neural pathways: A preliminary investigation.

Positive social comparative feedback is hypothesized to generate a dopamine response in the brain, similar to reward, by enhancing expectancies to support motor skill learning. However, no studies have utilized neuroimaging to examine this hypothesized dopaminergic mechanism. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the effect of positive social comparative feedback on dopaminergic neural pathways measured by resting state connectivity. Thirty individuals practiced an implicit, motor sequence learning task and were assigned to groups that differed in feedback type. One group received feedback about their actual response time to complete the task (RT ONLY), while the other group received feedback about their response time with positive social comparison (RT + POS). Magnetic resonance imaging was acquired at the beginning and end of repetitive motor practice with feedback to measure practice-dependent changes in resting state brain connectivity. While both groups showed improvements in task performance and increases in performance expectancies, ventral tegmental area and the left nucleus accumbens (mesolimbic dopamine pathway) resting state connectivity increased in the RT + POS group but not in the RT ONLY group. Instead, the RT ONLY group showed increased connectivity between ventral tegmental area and primary motor cortex. Positive social comparative feedback during practice of a motor sequence task may induce a dopaminergic response in the brain along the mesolimbic pathway. However, given that absence of effects on expectancies and motor learning, more robust and individualized approaches may be needed to provide beneficial psychological and behavioral effects.

Effects of bilateral tDCS over DLPFC on response inhibition, craving, and brain functional connectivity in Internet gaming disorder: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial with fMRI.

Background and aims: Impaired inhibitory control accompanied by enhanced craving is hallmark of addiction. This study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on response inhibition and craving in Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We examined the brain changes after tDCS and their correlation with clinical variables. Methods: Twenty-four males with IGD were allocated randomly to an active or sham tDCS group, and data from 22 participants were included for analysis. Participants self-administered bilateral tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 10 sessions. Stop-signal tasks were conducted to measure response inhibition and participants were asked about their cravings for Internet gaming at baseline and post-tDCS. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected at pre- and post-tDCS, and group differences in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes from the bilateral DLPFC and nucleus accumbens were examined. We explored the relationship between changes in the rsFC and behavioral variables in the active tDCS group. Results: A significant group-by-time interaction was observed in response inhibition. After tDCS, only the active group showed a decrease in the stop-signal reaction time (SSRT). Although craving decreased, there were no significant group-by-time interactions or group main effects. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) showed group differences in post- versus pre-tDCS rsFC from the right DLPFC. The rsFC between the ACC and left middle frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the SSRT. Discussion and conclusion: Our study provides preliminary evidence that bilateral tDCS over the DLPFC improves inhibitory control and could serve as a therapeutic approach for IGD.

Effects of deep brain stimulation on dopamine D2 receptor binding in patients with treatment-refractory depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a chronic psychiatric disorder related to diminished dopaminergic neurotransmission. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown effectiveness in treating patients with treatment-refractory depression (TRD). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of DBS on dopamine D2 receptor binding in patients with TRD. METHODS: Six patients with TRD were treated with bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)-nucleus accumbens (NAc) DBS were recruited. Ultra-high sensitivity [11C]raclopride dynamic total-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was used to assess the brain D2 receptor binding. Each patient underwent a [11C]raclopride PET scan for 60-min under DBS OFF and DBS ON, respectively. A simplified reference tissue model was used to generate parametric images of binding potential (BPND) with the cerebellum as reference tissue. RESULTS: Depression and anxiety symptoms improved after 3-6 months of DBS treatment. Compared with two-day-nonstimulated conditions, one-day BNST-NAc DBS decreased [11C]raclopride BPND in the amygdala (15.9 %, p < 0.01), caudate nucleus (15.4 %, p < 0.0001) and substantia nigra (10.8 %, p < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited to the small sample size and lack of a healthy control group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic BNST-NAc DBS improved depression and anxiety symptoms, and short-term stimulation decreased D2 receptor binding in the amygdala, caudate nucleus, and substantia nigra. The findings suggest that DBS relieves depression and anxiety symptoms possibly by regulating the dopaminergic system.

Altered neural representation of olfactory food reward in the nucleus accumbens after acute stress.

Acute stress impairs reward processing. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) plays an important role in the processing of primary rewards such as food. The present study investigates how acute stress affects the olfactory food reward processing in the NAcc using the representational similarity analysis. Forty-eight participants underwent an olfactory fMRI session following either an acute psychosocial stress (N = 24; stress group) or a control (N = 24; control group). Brain activation was recorded during the anticipatory and the perceptual phases of high-calorie food, low-calorie food, and non-food odor stimuli. Compared to the control group, the stress group rated the high-calorie food odor as significantly more pleasant (p = 0.005). In the NAcc, acute stress significantly reduced the dissimilarity of food and non-food odors in the perceptual phase (p = 0.027) and marginally reduced the dissimilarity of high- and low-calorie foods in the anticipatory phase (p = 0.095). Significant negative correlations were observed between the level of NAcc representational differentiation for high- and low-calorie food odors during perception and the difference in pleasantness ratings between high- and low-calorie food odors (r = -0.40, p = 0.005). These findings suggest that acute stress may impair participants' ability to discriminate between olfactory food rewards, leading individuals to seek out more palatable foods in stressful situations in order to maintain positive emotions.

Dysconnectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala in Youths with Thought Problems: A Dimensional Approach.

Background: Youths with thought problems (TP) are at risk to develop psychosis and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet, the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning TP are still unclear. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that striatal and limbic alterations are associated with psychosis-like and obsessive-like symptoms in individuals at clinical risk for psychosis, schizophrenia, and OCD. More specifically, nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and amygdala are mainly involved in these associations. The current study aims to investigate the neural correlates of TP in youth populations using a dimensional approach and explore potential cognitive functions and neurotransmitters associated with it. Methods: Seed-to-voxels functional connectivity analyses using NAcc and amygdala as regions-of-interest were conducted with resting-state fMRI data obtained from 1360 young individuals, and potential confounders related to TP such as anxiety and cognitive functions were included as covariates in multiple regression analyses. Replicability was tested in using an adult cohort. In addition, functional decoding and neurochemical correlation analyses were performed to identify the associated cognitive functions and neurotransmitters. Results: The altered functional connectivities between the right NAcc and posterior parahippocampal gyrus, between the right amygdala and lateral prefrontal cortex, and between the left amygdala and the secondary visual area were the best predictors of TP in multiple regression model. These functional connections are mainly involved in social cognition and reward processing. Conclusions: The results show that alterations in the functional connectivity of the NAcc and the amygdala in neural pathways involved in social cognition and reward processing are associated with severity of TP in youths.

Linking connectivity of deep brain stimulation of nucleus accumbens area with clinical depression improvements: a retrospective longitudinal case series.

Treatment-resistant depression is a severe form of major depressive disorder and deep brain stimulation is currently an investigational treatment. The stimulation's therapeutic effect may be explained through the functional and structural connectivities between the stimulated area and other brain regions, or to depression-associated networks. In this longitudinal, retrospective study, four female patients with treatment-resistant depression were implanted for stimulation in the nucleus accumbens area at our center. We analyzed the structural and functional connectivity of the stimulation area: the structural connectivity was investigated with probabilistic tractography; the functional connectivity was estimated by combining patient-specific stimulation volumes and a normative functional connectome. These structural and functional connectivity profiles were then related to four clinical outcome scores. At 1-year follow-up, the remission rate was 66%. We observed a consistent structural connectivity to Brodmann area 25 in the patient with the longest remission phase. The functional connectivity analysis resulted in patient-specific R-maps describing brain areas significantly correlated with symptom improvement in this patient, notably the prefrontal cortex. But the connectivity analysis was mixed across patients, calling for confirmation in a larger cohort and over longer time periods.

Safety and feasibility clinical trial of nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for treatment-refractory opioid use disorder.

OBJECTIVE: There were more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the US in 2021, the most ever recorded. Despite advances in behavioral and pharmacological treatments, over 50% of those receiving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) experience drug use recurrence (relapse). Given the prevalence of OUD and other substance use disorders (SUDs), the high rate of drug use recurrence, and the number of drug overdose deaths, novel treatment strategies are desperately needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the nucleus accumbens (NAc)/ventral capsule (VC) and potential impact on outcomes in individuals with treatment-refractory OUD. METHODS: A prospective, open-label, single-arm study was conducted among participants with longstanding treatment-refractory OUD (along with other co-occurring SUDs) who underwent DBS in the NAc/VC. The primary study endpoint was safety; secondary/exploratory outcomes included opioid and other substance use, substance craving, and emotional symptoms throughout follow-up and 18FDG-PET neuroimaging. RESULTS: Four male participants were enrolled and all tolerated DBS surgery well with no serious adverse events (AEs) and no device- or stimulation-related AEs. Two participants sustained complete substance abstinence for > 1150 and > 520 days, respectively, with significant post-DBS reductions in substance craving, anxiety, and depression. One participant experienced post-DBS drug use recurrences with reduced frequency and severity. The DBS system was explanted in one participant due to noncompliance with treatment requirements and the study protocol. 18FDG-PET neuroimaging revealed increased glucose metabolism in the frontal regions for the participants with sustained abstinence only. CONCLUSIONS: DBS of the NAc/VC was safe, feasible, and can potentially reduce substance use, craving, and emotional symptoms in those with treatment-refractory OUD. A randomized, sham-controlled trial in a larger cohort of patients is being initiated.

Functional Connectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens across Variants of Callous-Unemotional Traits: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Children and Adolescents.

A large body of literature suggests that the primary (high callousness-unemotional traits [CU] and low anxiety) and secondary (high CU traits and anxiety) variants of psychopathy significantly differ in terms of their clinical profiles. However, little is known about their neurobiological differences. While few studies showed that variants differ in brain activity during fear processing, it remains unknown whether they also show atypical functioning in motivational and reward system. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on a large sample of adolescents (n = 1416) to identify variants based on their levels of callousness and anxiety. Seed-to-voxel connectivity analysis was subsequently performed on resting-state fMRI data to compare connectivity patterns of the nucleus accumbens across subgroups. LPA failed to identify the primary variant when using total score of CU traits. Using a family-wise cluster correction, groups did not differ on functional connectivity. However, at an uncorrected threshold the secondary variant showed distinct functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and posterior insula, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, and parietal regions. Secondary LPA analysis using only the callousness subscale successfully distinguish both variants. Group differences replicated results of deficits in functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and posterior insula and supplementary motor area, but additionally showed effect in the superior temporal gyrus which was specific to the primary variant. The current study supports the importance of examining the neurobiological markers across subgroups of adolescents at risk for conduct problems to precise our understanding of this heterogeneous population.

Reciprocal relationships between stress and depressive symptoms: the essential role of the nucleus accumbens.

BACKGROUND: Stress and depression have a reciprocal relationship, but the neural underpinnings of this reciprocity are unclear. We investigated neuroimaging phenotypes that facilitate the reciprocity between stress and depressive symptoms. METHODS: In total, 22 195 participants (52.0% females) from the population-based UK Biobank study completed two visits (initial visit: 2006-2010, age = 55.0 ± 7.5 [40-70] years; second visit: 2014-2019; age = 62.7 ± 7.5 [44-80] years). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between self-report stressful life events (SLEs) and depressive symptoms. Cross-sectional data were used to examine the overlap between neuroimaging correlates of SLEs and depressive symptoms on the second visit among 138 multimodal imaging phenotypes. RESULTS: Longitudinal data were consistent with significant bidirectional causal relationship between SLEs and depressive symptoms. In cross-sectional analyses, SLEs were significantly associated with lower bilateral nucleus accumbal volume and lower fractional anisotropy of the forceps major. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with extensive white matter hyperintensities, thinner cortex, lower subcortical volume, and white matter microstructural deficits, mainly in corticostriatal-limbic structures. Lower bilateral nucleus accumbal volume were the only imaging phenotypes with overlapping effects of depressive symptoms and SLEs (B = -0.032 to -0.023, p = 0.006-0.034). Depressive symptoms and SLEs significantly partially mediated the effects of each other on left and right nucleus accumbens volume (proportion of effects mediated = 12.7-14.3%, p < 0.001-p = 0.008). For the left nucleus accumbens, post-hoc seed-based analysis showed lower resting-state functional connectivity with the left orbitofrontal cortex (cluster size = 83 voxels, p = 5.4 × 10-5) in participants with high v. no SLEs. CONCLUSIONS: The nucleus accumbens may play a key role in the reciprocity between stress and depressive symptoms.

Perceived financial well-being and its association with frontostriatal functional connectivity, real-life anticipatory experiences, and everyday happiness.

Perceived financial well-being (FWB) is an important aspect of life that can affect one's attitude toward future experiences and happiness. However, the relationship between FWB, anticipatory experiences, and happiness, and the brain's functional architecture underlying this relationship remain unknown. Here, we combined an experience sampling method, multilevel modeling, and functional neuroimaging to identify the neural correlates of FWB and their associations with real-world anticipatory experiences and everyday happiness. Behaviorally, we found that individuals with greater FWB felt more positive and more interested when they expected positive events to occur, which in turn resulted in increased everyday happiness. Furthermore, the level of FWB was significantly associated with the strength of functional connectivity (FC) between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the local coherence within the vmPFC. The frontostriatal FC and local coherence within the vmPFC were further predictive of everyday happiness via the anticipatory response involving interestedness during positive expectations. Our findings suggest that individual differences in FWB could be reflected in the functional architecture of brain's reward system that may contribute to shaping positive anticipatory experiences and happiness in daily life.

The role of functional and structural properties of the nucleus accumbens subregions in eating behavior regulation of bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Although studies have demonstrated the involvement of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the neurobiology of eating disorders, its alterations in bulimia nervosa (BN) remain largely unknown. This study investigated the structural and functional properties of NAc in patients with BN. METHOD: Based on the resting-state functional MRI and high-resolution anatomical T1-weighted imaging data acquired from 43 right-handed BN patients and 40 sex-, age- and education-matched right-handed healthy controls (HCs), the group differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in slow-4 and -5 bands and functional connectivity (FC) of NAc subregions (core and shell) were compared. The relationships between MRI and clinical data were explored in the BN group. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, BN patients showed preserved GMV, decreased fALFF in slow-5 band of the left NAc core and shell, decreased FC between left NAc core and right caudate, and increased FC between all NAc subregions and frontal regions, between all NAc subregions (except the right NAc core) and the supramarginal gyrus (SMG), and between right NAc shell and left middle temporal gyrus. FC between the NAc and SMG was correlated with emotional eating behaviors. DISCUSSION: Our study revealed preserved GMV, local neuronal activity reduction and functional network reorganization of the NAc in BN. The functional network reorganization of the NAc mainly occurred in the frontal cortex and was correlated with emotional eating behavior. These findings may provide novel insights into the BN using NAc as an entry point. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Although studies have demonstrated the involvement of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the neurobiology of eating disorders, its alterations in bulimia nervosa (BN) remain largely unknown. We used a multimodal MRI technique to systematically investigate structural and functional alterations in NAc subregions of BN patients and explored the associations between such alterations and maladaptive eating behaviors, hoping to provide novel insights into BN.

A mesocorticolimbic signature of pleasure in the human brain.

Pleasure is a fundamental driver of human behaviour, yet its neural basis remains largely unknown. Rodent studies highlight opioidergic neural circuits connecting the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, insula and orbitofrontal cortex as critical for the initiation and regulation of pleasure, and human neuroimaging studies exhibit some translational parity. However, whether activation in these regions conveys a generalizable representation of pleasure regulated by opioidergic mechanisms remains unclear. Here we use pattern recognition techniques to develop a human functional magnetic resonance imaging signature of mesocorticolimbic activity unique to states of pleasure. In independent validation tests, this signature is sensitive to pleasant tastes and affect evoked by humour. The signature is spatially co-extensive with mu-opioid receptor gene expression, and its response is attenuated by the opioid antagonist naloxone. These findings provide evidence for a basis of pleasure in humans that is distributed across brain systems.

Atrophy of bilateral nucleus accumbens in melancholic depression.

Evidence from previous literature suggests that the nucleus accumbens (NAc), hippocampus, and amygdala play critical roles in the reward circuit. Meanwhile, it was also suggested that abnormalities in the reward circuit might be closely associated with the symptom of anhedonia of depression. However, few studies have investigated the structural alterations of the NAc, hippocampus, and amygdala in depression with anhedonia as the main clinical manifestation. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the structural changes of the subcortical regions among melancholic depression (MD) patients, especially in the NAc, hippocampus, and amygdala, to provide a theoretical basis for understanding the pathological mechanisms of MD. Seventy-two MD patients, 74 nonmelancholic depression (NMD) patients, and 81 healthy controls (HCs) matched for sex, age, and years of education were included in the study. All participants underwent T1-weighted MRI scans. Subcortical structure segmentation was performed using the FreeSurfer software. MD and NMD patients had reduced left hippocampal volume compared with HCs. Meanwhile, only MD patients had reduced bilateral NAc volumes. Moreover, correlation analyses showed correlations between left NAc volume and late insomnia and lassitude in MD patients. The reduced hippocampal volume may be related to the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD), and the reduced volume of the NAc may be the unique neural mechanism of MD. The findings of the current study suggest that future studies should investigate the different pathogenic mechanisms of different subtypes of MDD further to contribute to the development of individualized diagnostic and treatment protocols.

Sex differences in emotion- and reward-related neural responses predicting increases in substance use in adolescence.

Adolescent substance use is a significant public health problem and there is a need for effective substance use preventions. To develop effective preventions, it is important to identify neurobiological risk factors that predict increases in substance use in adolescence and to understand potential sex differences in risk mechanisms. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging and hierarchical linear modeling to examine negative emotion- and reward-related neural responses in early adolescence predicting growth in substance use to middle adolescence in 81 youth, by sex. Adolescent neural responses to negative emotional stimuli and monetary reward receipt were assessed at age 12-14. Adolescents reported on substance use at age 12-14 and at 6 month, and 1, 2, and 3 year follow-ups. Adolescent neural responses did not predict initiation of substance use (yes/no), but, among users, neural responses predicted growth in substance use frequency. For girls, heightened right amygdala responses to negative emotional stimuli in early adolescence predicted growth in substance use frequency through middle adolescence. For boys, blunted left nucleus accumbens and bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex responses to monetary reward predicted growth in substance use frequency. Findings suggest different emotion and reward-related predictors of the development of substance use for adolescent girls versus boys.

Long-term outcomes of deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant schizophrenia: Exploring potential targets.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a complex and disabling disorder. Around 30% of patients have treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). OBJECTIVE: This study summarizes the outcomes after three years follow-up of the first series of patients with TRS treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) and discuss surgical, clinical and imaging analysis. METHODS: Eight patients with TRS treated with DBS in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) or the subgenual cingulate gyrus (SCG) were included. Symptoms were rated with the PANSS scale and normalized using the illness density index (IDI). A reduction in IDI-PANSS of ≥25% compared to baseline was the criterion of good response. The volume of activated tissue was calculated to perform a connectomic analysis for each patient. An estimation of the tracts and cortical areas modulated was generated. RESULTS: Five women and three men were analyzed. After 3 years' follow-up, positive symptoms improved in 50% of the SCG group and 75% of the NAcc group (p = 0.06), and general symptoms improved in 25% and 50% respectively (p = 0.06). The SCG group showed activation of the cingulate bundle and modulation of orbitofrontal and frontomesial regions; in contrast, the NAcc group showed activation of the ventral tegmental area projections pathway and modulation of regions associated with the "default mode network" (precuneus) and Brodmann areas 19 and 20. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed a trend toward improvement for positive and general symptoms in patients with TRS treated with DBS. The connectomic analysis will help us understand the interaction of this treatment with the disease to pursue future trial designs.

Neural similarity in nucleus accumbens during decision-making for the self and a best friend: Links to adolescents' self-reported susceptibility to peer influence and risk taking.

Adolescence is marked by increased peer influence on risk taking; however, recent literature suggests enormous individual variation in peer influence susceptibility to risk-taking behaviors. The current study uses representation similarity analysis to test whether neural similarity between decision-making for self and peers (i.e., best friends) in a risky context is associated with individual differences in self-reported peer influence susceptibility and risky behaviors in adolescents. Adolescent participants (N = 166, Mage = 12.89) completed a neuroimaging task in which they made risky decisions to receive rewards for themselves, their best friend, and their parents. Adolescent participants self-reported peer influence susceptibility and engagement in risk-taking behaviors. We found that adolescents with greater similarity in nucleus accumbens (NACC) response patterns between the self and their best friend reported greater susceptibility to peer influence and increased risk-taking behaviors. However, neural similarity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) was not significantly associated with adolescents' peer influence susceptibility and risk-taking behaviors. Further, when examining neural similarity between adolescents' self and their parent in the NACC and vmPFC, we did not find links to peer influence susceptibility and risk-taking behaviors. Together, our results suggest that greater similarity for self and friend in the NACC is associated with individual differences in adolescents' peer influence susceptibility and risk-taking behaviors.

Altered nucleus accumbens functional connectivity precedes apathy in Parkinson's disease.

Work in animal and human neuroscience has identified neural regions forming a network involved in the production of motivated, goal-directed behaviour. In particular, the nucleus accumbens and anterior cingulate cortex are recognized as key network nodes underlying decisions of whether to exert effort for reward, to drive behaviour. Previous work has convincingly shown that this cognitive mechanism, known as effort-based decision making, is altered in people with Parkinson's disease with a syndrome of reduced goal-directed behaviour-apathy. Building on this work, we investigated whether the neural regions implementing effort-based decision-making were associated with apathy in Parkinson's disease, and more importantly, whether changes to these regions were evident prior to apathy development. We performed a large, multimodal neuroimaging analysis in a cohort of people with Parkinson's disease (n = 199) with and without apathy at baseline. All participants had ∼2-year follow-up apathy scores, enabling examination of brain structure and function specifically in those with normal motivation who converted to apathy by ∼2-year follow-up. In addition, of the people with normal motivation, a subset (n = 56) had follow-up neuroimaging data, allowing for examination of the 'rate of change' in key nodes over time in those who did, and did not, convert to apathy. Healthy control (n = 54) data were also included to aid interpretation of findings. Functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex was higher in people with normal motivation who later converted to apathy compared to those who did not, whereas no structural differences were evident between these groups. In contrast, grey matter volume in these regions was reduced in the group with existing apathy. Furthermore, of those with normal motivation who had undergone longitudinal neuroimaging, converters to apathy showed a higher rate of change in grey matter volume within the nucleus accumbens. Overall, we show that changes in functional connectivity between nucleus accumbens and anterior cingulate cortex precedes apathy in people with Parkinson's disease, with conversion to apathy associated with higher rate of grey matter volume loss in nucleus accumbens, despite no baseline differences. These findings significantly add to an accumulating body of transdiagnostic evidence that apathy arises from disruption to key nodes within a network in which normal goal-directed behaviour is instantiated, and raise the possibility of identifying those at risk for developing apathy before overt motivational deficits have arisen.