Gender-specific modulation of neural mechanisms underlying social reward processing by Autism Quotient.

ABSTRACT: Autism spectrum disorder refers to a neurodevelopmental condition primarily characterized by deficits in social cognition and behavior. Subclinically, autistic features are supposed to be present in healthy humans and can be quantified using the Autism Quotient (AQ). Here, we investigated a potential relationship between AQ and neural correlates of social and monetary reward processing, using functional magnetic resonance imaging in young, healthy participants. In an incentive delay task with either monetary or social reward, reward anticipation elicited increased ventral striatal activation, which was more pronounced during monetary reward anticipation. Anticipation of social reward elicited activation in the default mode network (DMN), a network previously implicated in social processing

SUBMITTER: Barman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4631150 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature