Individual differences in reward-prediction-error: extraversion and feedback-related negativity

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2011 Oct;6(5):646-52. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsq078. Epub 2010 Sep 19.

Abstract

Medial frontal scalp-recorded negativity occurring ∼200-300 ms post-stimulus [known as feedback-related negativity (FRN)] is attenuated following unpredicted reward and potentiated following unpredicted non-reward. This encourages the view that FRN may partly reflect dopaminergic 'reward-prediction-error' signalling. We examined the influence of a putatively dopamine-based personality trait, extraversion (N = 30), and a dopamine-related gene polymorphism, DRD2/ANKK1 (N = 24), on FRN during an associative reward-learning paradigm. FRN was most negative following unpredicted non-reward and least-negative following unpredicted reward. A difference wave contrasting these conditions was significantly more pronounced for extraverted participants than for introverts, with a similar but non-significant trend for participants carrying at least one copy of the A1 allele of the DRD2/ANKK1 gene compared with those without the allele. Extraversion was also significantly higher in A1 allele carriers. Results have broad relevance to neuroscience and personality research concerning reward processing and dopamine function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Contingent Negative Variation / genetics
  • Contingent Negative Variation / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Extraversion, Psychological*
  • Feedback, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Male
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3 / genetics
  • Reward*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DRD3 protein, human
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases