Effects of task-relevant incentives on the electrophysiological correlates of error processing in major depressive disorder

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with action-monitoring dysfunction-particularly, disrupted error processing. Whether such dysregulation is further modulated by task incentives is largely unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate possible dysfunctions in error processing in MDD as a function of varying task incentives and clinical profile. To this end, we recorded the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) in 18 MDD participants and 18 healthy controls during a Stroop task that intermixed no-incentive and reward trials. Relative to controls, MDD participants showed (1) larger ERN irrespective of task incentives, and (2) reduced Pe during reward (but not no-incentive) trials. Moreover, among MDD participants, Pe amplitudes were negatively correlated with depression severity and clinical symptoms. The present findings highlight distinct effects of task incentives on electrophysiological components of error processing and are interpreted within current theories of action monitoring and incentive processing in depression.

Figure 1

(A) Response-locked waveforms for MDD (n = 13; red line) and control (n = 17; blue line) subjects. To reflect the significant Group × Response interaction and to highlight the error-related negativity (ERN), the waveforms were averaged across congruent and incongruent trials, no-incentive and reward trials, and Fz, FCz, Cz. (B) Mean (and S.E.) amplitude scores for the ERN and the correct-response negativity (CRN) averaged across Fz, FCz, Cz for the MDD (black color) and control (grey color) subjects

Figure 2

Response-locked waveforms for MDD (n = 13; black line) and control (n = 7; gray line) subjects for (A) no-incentive and (B) reward trials. The waveform was averaged across congruent and incongruent trials and across CPz and Pz to highlight the error-positivity (Pe).

Figure 3

Scatterplots and Pearson correlations between error-positivity (Pe) amplitudes and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores for (A) no-incentive (B) and reward trials. MDD participants only (n = 13).

Figure 4

Scatterplots and Pearson correlations between error-positivity (Pe) amplitudes and Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ) subscale. (A) anhedonia depression (MASQ AD); (B) general distress depressive symptoms (MASQ GDD); (C) anxious arousal (MASQ AA); (D) general distress-anxious symptoms (MASQ GDA). For (A) and (B), Pe amplitudes were derived from no-incentive trials, whereas for (C) and (D) from reward trials. MDD participants only (n = 13).