Submitted for
Publication
Individual differences in
approach motivation, resting-state frontal cortical activity and
attentional scope
Maarten A.S. Boksem, Evelien Kostermans, Mattie Tops & David De Cremer
Abstract - Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in approach motivation modulate attentional scope. In turn, approach and inhibition have been related to different neural systems that are associated with asymmetries in relative frontal cortical activity (RFA). Here, we investigated whether individual differences in approach motivation (as measured by the BIS/BAS scale) and differences in 'resting state' hemispheric activity, would be associated with attentional scope. The results showed that only the BAS-Reward subscale was associated with left RFA during rest, while BIS, BAS-Drive and BAS-Fun were associated with more right RFA. Left RFA was associated with increased P3 (right-lateralized) amplitudes and decreased P3 latencies on trials requiring a global focus, which in turn were related to faster responses on stimuli requiring a global focus. These results provide evidence for a positive association between left RFA during rest, that is associated with approach motivation, and increased efficiency in processing global information.
Error-Related ERPs Track Evaluation of Non-Reward and Punishment in Schizophrenia
Maarten A.S. Boksem & Philip B. Ward
Abstract - Background: There are conflicting reports on whether decision-making deficits observed in schizophrenia are associated with changes in the evaluation of rewards, punishments, or both.
Methods: In the present study, we investigated a group of subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=10) and a healthy control group (n=12) in separate conditions involving either explicit reward or explicit punishment while measuring event-related potentials (ERPs).
Results: Compared to controls, schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly reduced error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude in the reward omission condition, while ERN amplitude in the punishment condition did not differ between patients and controls.
Conclusions: These findings add to a number of studies reporting reductions in ERN amplitudes in schizophrenia, but extend these findings by demonstrating that this reduction is only observed under conditions of reward omission and not conditions of punishment. Implications for decision-making in schizophrenia and potential dysfunctions in its neural substrate are discussed.
From Effort to Reward or Burnout: a neurobiological framework.
Maarten A.S. Boksem & Mattie Tops
Abstract - Burnout is a condition characterized by depressed mood, fatigue and disengagement, and is proposed to be the final result of chronic work-related dysfunctions. Research on burnout has been dominated in recent years by two theoretical models: the demand-control model and the effort-reward imbalance model. In the present review, we will present a framework for the development of burnout that accommodates the neurobiological processes proposed to be involved in motivated engagement, disengagement, effort, and (ineffective) energetical mobilization in the context of high demands and low control. When the work situation is uncontrollable, people are forced to override the drive to disengage that results from an imbalance of perceived costs and benefits associated with their work. However, overriding this signal for prolonged periods of time may lead to chronic alterations in the mobilization of energetical resources. This, we propose, may be fundamental to disorders that are characterized by long-term fatigue, such as burnout.
Maarten A.S. Boksem, Evelien Kostermans, Mattie Tops & David De Cremer
Abstract - Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in approach motivation modulate attentional scope. In turn, approach and inhibition have been related to different neural systems that are associated with asymmetries in relative frontal cortical activity (RFA). Here, we investigated whether individual differences in approach motivation (as measured by the BIS/BAS scale) and differences in 'resting state' hemispheric activity, would be associated with attentional scope. The results showed that only the BAS-Reward subscale was associated with left RFA during rest, while BIS, BAS-Drive and BAS-Fun were associated with more right RFA. Left RFA was associated with increased P3 (right-lateralized) amplitudes and decreased P3 latencies on trials requiring a global focus, which in turn were related to faster responses on stimuli requiring a global focus. These results provide evidence for a positive association between left RFA during rest, that is associated with approach motivation, and increased efficiency in processing global information.
Error-Related ERPs Track Evaluation of Non-Reward and Punishment in Schizophrenia
Maarten A.S. Boksem & Philip B. Ward
Abstract - Background: There are conflicting reports on whether decision-making deficits observed in schizophrenia are associated with changes in the evaluation of rewards, punishments, or both.
Methods: In the present study, we investigated a group of subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=10) and a healthy control group (n=12) in separate conditions involving either explicit reward or explicit punishment while measuring event-related potentials (ERPs).
Results: Compared to controls, schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly reduced error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude in the reward omission condition, while ERN amplitude in the punishment condition did not differ between patients and controls.
Conclusions: These findings add to a number of studies reporting reductions in ERN amplitudes in schizophrenia, but extend these findings by demonstrating that this reduction is only observed under conditions of reward omission and not conditions of punishment. Implications for decision-making in schizophrenia and potential dysfunctions in its neural substrate are discussed.
From Effort to Reward or Burnout: a neurobiological framework.
Maarten A.S. Boksem & Mattie Tops
Abstract - Burnout is a condition characterized by depressed mood, fatigue and disengagement, and is proposed to be the final result of chronic work-related dysfunctions. Research on burnout has been dominated in recent years by two theoretical models: the demand-control model and the effort-reward imbalance model. In the present review, we will present a framework for the development of burnout that accommodates the neurobiological processes proposed to be involved in motivated engagement, disengagement, effort, and (ineffective) energetical mobilization in the context of high demands and low control. When the work situation is uncontrollable, people are forced to override the drive to disengage that results from an imbalance of perceived costs and benefits associated with their work. However, overriding this signal for prolonged periods of time may lead to chronic alterations in the mobilization of energetical resources. This, we propose, may be fundamental to disorders that are characterized by long-term fatigue, such as burnout.
