Daniela Ventura / Psychology / Faculty Mentor: Tracy Greer, Crystal Cooper
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in youth and is often correlated with depression. Reward processing is diminished by the presence of anhedonia, a cardinal symptom of depression, and remains unexplored in epilepsy. Altered reward processing can cause issues in functioning and quality of life, necessitating a better understanding of this cognitive function in youth with epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidities. Both people with epilepsy (PWE; n=23) and typically developing (TD; n=25) adolescents (aged 10-19) performed the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) to assess reward learning. Clinical scales assessing levels of depression, anxiety, anhedonia, and resilience were also collected. Reward learning was equivalent between the groups. PWE had slower reaction time than TD, however, they did not show a difference in basic psychomotor speed. Higher depression was correlated with higher PRT accuracy in PWE, and with lower anhedonia and resilience in all participants. The positive correlation between PRT accuracy and depressive symptoms in PWE may indicate slower reaction time due to a greater concern for being correct, aiding reward learning. Better characterization of reward processing in PWE and psychiatric comorbidities may allow for early intervention and development of targeted therapies, as well as improved functioning and quality of life.
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