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Intertemporal choice behavior is constrained by brain structure in healthy participants and pathological gamblers

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Abstract

The steepness of the delay discounting function shows considerable interindividual differences. Moreover, faster devaluation of future rewards has been consistently observed in pathological gamblers (PGs). Here, we asked whether variability in delay discounting is at least partially driven by differences in the anatomy of gray and white matter. For 40 healthy young subjects (study 1) as well as 15 PG and 15 age-matched healthy controls (HCs, study 2), the individual discounting parameter k was obtained. Based on 3D T1-weighted high-resolution magnetic resonance scans and diffusion tensor imaging, we performed voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics, respectively, to examine the relation of gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter properties (as indicated by fractional anisotropy, FA) to k. Healthy groups from both studies showed a negative correlation between k and FA for the superior longitudinal fascicle and inferior longitudinal fascicle, whereas a positive correlation was found in the PG group for the inferior longitudinal fascicle and left inferior fronto-occipital fascicle. The latter also was significantly different between HC and PG in the group statistics (albeit on the right side), thus suggesting that this is a significant structure for the development of pathological gambling. GMV of the right frontal orbital cortex, left insular cortex and right lateral occipital cortex showed a positive correlation to k HC (studies 1 and 2) and PG, whereas a negative correlation was found for the left frontal pole in all three groups. Group comparison of GMV (study 2) revealed a decrease in PG for several cortical and subcortical areas.

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Abbreviations

DSM IV:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

EPI:

Echo planar imaging

FA:

Fractional anisotropy

FOV:

Field of view

FWHM:

Full width half maximum

HC:

Healthy control

KFG:

Kurzfragebogen zum Glücksspielverhalten (German gambling questionnaire)

LDR:

Large delayed reward

MR:

Magnetic resonance

PG:

Pathological gambler

SIR:

Small immediate reward

SOGS:

South Oaks Gambling Screen

TBSS:

Tract-based spatial statistics

VBM:

Voxel-based morphometry

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Acknowledgments

TFM and MH are supported by grants of the DFG and BMBF.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany

      Bahram Mohammadi, Anke Hammer, Daniel Wiswede & Thomas F. Münte

    2. International Neuroscience Institute, Hannover, Germany

      Bahram Mohammadi

    3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

      Anke Hammer

    4. Institute of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

      Stephan F. Miedl

    5. Institute of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

      Daniel Wiswede & Thomas F. Münte

    6. Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain

      Josep Marco-Pallarés

    7. Department of Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

      Stephan F. Miedl & Manfred Herrmann

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    1. Bahram Mohammadi
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    Correspondence to Thomas F. Münte.

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    B. Mohammadi and A. Hammer.contributed equally.

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    Mohammadi, B., Hammer, A., Miedl, S.F. et al. Intertemporal choice behavior is constrained by brain structure in healthy participants and pathological gamblers. Brain Struct Funct 221, 3157–3170 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1093-9

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