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LETTER
Subthalamic involvement in
monetary reward and its
dysfunction in parkinsonian
gamblers
INTRODUCTION
Pathological gambling (PG) is an impulse
control disorder that manifests in 2.2–7%
of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Although the underlying neural mechan-
isms remain controversial, parkinsonian
patients with PG show enhanced risk pro-
pensity, especially when assuming dopa-
mine agonist drugs.
The dopaminergic reward circuit, a
neural network that participates in devel-
oping and monitoring motivated beha-
viours,
1
includes the subthalamic nucleus
(STN). Local field potentials (LFPs)
recorded from macroelectrodes implanted
in the STN for deep brain stimulation
(DBS) show specific low-frequency oscilla-
tions in patients with PD with impulsive
control disorders at rest and in patients
with PG during the preparation of con-
flictual economics decisions.
23
No study
has yet investigated STN involvement in
monetary reward processing, namely the
phase that follows economics decisions,
when participants face the outcome of
their choice in patients with PD. Besides
helping to understand the mechanisms
underlying PG, this knowledge could
promote the optimisation of therapies for
impulse control disorders.
We investigated the STN’s role in
risk-related monetary reward in parkin-
sonian patients. To do so, we studied the
reward-related STN LFPs changes in
patients with PD with and without PG
engaged in an economics decision task.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We enrolled 12 patients with PD 4 days
after STN DBS macroelectrode positioning
surgery as described elsewhere
3
(for clinical
details, see table 1 from Ref. 3, patients
number 1–4, 8–12, 14, 15, 17). Of the 12
patients, 6 met the criteria for PG according
to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR). All
patients gave informed consent. The study
was conducted in accordance with the
DeclarationofHelsinkiandwasapproved
by the institutional review board. Patients
were tested with the economics decision
task (figure 1A,C) during bilateral STN LFP
recording from DBS macroelectrode
contact pair 0–2.
LFPs were preamplified, filtered (band
pass 2–512 Hz), differentially amplified
(×100 000) and digitised with a 1024 Hz
sampling rate through the Galileo BE
Light EEG amplification system (EBNeuro
Spa, Florence, Italy). LFPs were analysed
off-line with Matlab software (V.7.10, The
MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA).
First, to identify the main activated LFP
frequency band during economics feed-
back, we ran a time–frequency analysis.
Then, to obtain the mean frequency band
power in conflictual and non-conflictual
task conditions during the two task phases
(black screen, feedback) for each type of
feedback (risky positive, risky negative,
non-risky positive, non-risky negative),we
applied the Hilbert transform.
3
For behavioural analyses, the economics
strategy each patient used during task per-
formance was evaluated by calculating the
sum of risky choices in conflictual trials.
Differences between economics strategies
in patients with and without PG were
tested in a one-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) using PG ( presence, absence) as
between factor.
A one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test
was performed with electrophysiological
data to verify whether they have normal
distributions. To assess whether STN LFP
activity recorded during black screen
could be used as the baseline, we first
compared mean power during the black
screen in conflictual and non-conflictual
trials using a two-way repeated measures
ANOVA with between factor PG and
within factor type of feedback.
After calculating the percentage power
change from the baseline for each trial,
3
a
three-way repeated measures ANOVA with
between factor PG,first within factor task
phases and second within factor type of
feedback was run for conflictual trials. A
similar three-way ANOVA was run for
non-conflictual trials. One patient was
excluded from the analysis on non-
conflictual trials for artefacts due to elec-
trode extension cable movement.
Differences were considered significant at
p<0.05.
RESULTS
During the economics task, patients with
PG adopted a significantly more risk-
taking behavioural strategy than patients
without PG (F(1,10)=7.99; p=0.017).
The one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov
test showed that LFPs in the task phases
and in the types of feedback have a
normal distribution ( p>0.05 for all
variables).
In all patients, the time–frequency plot
for STN LFPs averaged across all trials
showed that the principal power modula-
tions during the feedback phase involved
low-frequency power (from 2.25±0.87 to
12.08±0.29 Hz; figure 1B).
When we applied the Hilbert trans-
form, the two-way ANOVA showed that
the factors PG and feedback type and
their interactions had no significant effects
on low-frequency power during the black
screen phase in conflictual (F(3,66)=1.45;
p>0.05) and non-conflictual trials (F
(3,60)=1.38; p>0.05). We therefore con-
sidered the STN LFP low-frequency band
power recorded when we displayed the
black screen as the baseline.
Global three-way ANOVA showed signifi-
cantly higher low-frequency power during
feedback than during black screen in con-
flictual (task phases, F(1,22)=9.25;
p=0.005) and non-conflictual trials (task
phases, F(1,20)=4.45; p=0.047; figure 1D).
Three-way ANOVA detected a signifi-
cant interaction between the three factors
only in conflictual trials (PG×task
phases×feedback type, F(3,66)=2.73;
p=0.050). Post hoc ANOVA showed a sig-
nificant interaction (PG×feedback type,F
(1,22)=2.74; p=0.050). Post hoc ANOVA
showed significant differences between
patients with and without PG only during
risky positive feedback (F(1,22)=5.07;
p=0.034). Specifically, when patients
received a positive feedback after a risky
choice, percentage changes in low-
frequency power were significantly lower
in parkinsonian patients without than with
PG (figure 1E).
DISCUSSION
In general, our results first provide the
neurophysiological evidence that the
human STN is involved in monetary
reward. Specifically, we found that the
reward-related STN neural activity
recorded during an economics decision
task shows distinct patterns in parkinson-
ian patients who gamble and those who
do not: whereas in gamblers, low-
frequency power increases during all types
of monetary feedback, that is, during
winning and losing, in non-gamblers, it
remains unchanged during the risky posi-
tive feedback, a low probable and high
win that in the long run leads to loss. This
neurophysiological pattern reflects the
behavioural strategy adopted by patients.
Patients without PG used a risk-avoiding
strategy, for instance, they tended to
choose stimuli associated with small but
more probable positive rewards (in our
economics task, a non-risky positive feed-
back). Conversely, patients with PG used a
risk-taking strategy, and preferred large
and less probable positive rewards (in our
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Month 2014 Vol 0 No 0 1
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JNNP Online First, published on July 12, 2014 as 10.1136/jnnp-2014-307912
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Figure 1 (A) The economics decision task. Each trial comprised two phases: the ‘feedback’phase displaying the money won or lost after the
patient’s choice, and the ‘black screen’. The red letters show the patient’s choice. (B) The time–frequency plot for the grand average subthalamic
nucleus local field potential (STN LFP) power in all trials in patients with and without pathological gambling (PG). Note that the principal power
changes during the feedback phase involved the low-frequency band. (C) Feedback obtained during the economics task in conflictual and
non-conflictual trials. On the left, an example showing a conflictual trial between a non-risky stimulus ‘A’and a risky stimulus ‘C’. On the right, an
example showing a non-conflictual trial between two risky stimuli ‘B’and ‘C’. We classified four types of feedback according to risk taking: risky
positive (+100€), risky negative (−70€), non-risky positive (+60€), non-risky negative (−30€). The task was designed to reward non-risky stimuli
choices, so that the larger the number of non-risky stimuli choices, the higher was the amount of money earned. (D) On the left, the grand average
of low-frequency power modulations in conflictual trials during the feedback phase and the black screen phase in all parkinsonian patients with and
without PG. Low-frequency power modulations are expressed as percentage changes from the black screen phase. Red horizontal lines represent the
mean low-frequency power during the feedback and black screen phases. On the right, the grand average for low-frequency power modulations in
non-conflictual trials. Note that in all patients STN LFP low-frequency power increased during feedback in both conflictual and non-conflictual trials.
(three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), p<0.05). (E) Histograms represent changes in low-frequency STN LFP power during feedback in patients
with and without PG in conflictual trials. Error bars represent the SE of the estimated mean. Below, time-frequency plots for the grand average STN
LFP power during risky positive feedback. Low-frequency power during risky positive feedback is significantly lower in patients without than in
patients with PG (post hoc ANOVA, *p<0.05).
2J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Month 2014 Vol 0 No 0
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task, a risky positive feedback). These
results suggest that the specific neuro-
physiological activity in non-gamblers that
remains unchanged during risky positive
feedback behaviourally reflects their scarce
tendency to choose this option.
Conversely, neurophysiological activity in
patients who gamble is modulated indif-
ferently by reward and gamblers behav-
iourally use a disadvantageous strategy.
Therefore, we conjecture that the spe-
cific STN LFP reward-related pattern in
response to the risky positive feedback
depends on the value that the STN ‘attri-
butes’to it in orienting the economics
choice: in patients with PG it suggests an
impaired learning in discriminating eco-
nomics rewards.
To understand the reward circuit better,
future research should also investigate cor-
tical modulation. It should also check
whether the feedback task involves other
cognitive processes related to decision-
making, including inhibition, learning,
probability encoding, stimuli salience and
reward encoding. Nonetheless, in general,
our results confirm previous reports on
STN low-frequency involvement in emo-
tional and decisional processes
4
and agree
with reports that STN DBS can variably
modulate efficacy in using feedback and
regulate impulsivity.
5
Our previous findings on the prepar-
ation of economics decision in parkinson-
ian patients with PG showed a
subthalamic dysfunction that makes their
decisional threshold highly sensitive to
risky options.
3
In this study, we extend
these results, suggesting that STN activity
is also affected by reward and that PG
could be related to a reward circuit
disorder.
Manuela Fumagalli,
1
Manuela Rosa,
1
Gaia Giannicola,
1
Sara Marceglia,
1
Claudio Lucchiari,
2
Domenico Servello,
3
Angelo Franzini,
4
Claudio Pacchetti,
5
Luigi Romito,
4
Alberto Albanese,
4
Mauro Porta,
3
Gabriella Pravettoni,
2,6
Alberto Priori
1,7
1
Centro Clinico per la Neurostimolazione, le
Neurotecnologie ed i Disordini del Movimento,
Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda, Ospedale Maggiore
Policlinico, Milan, Italy
2
Dipartimento di Economia, Management e Metodi
Quantitativi, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan,
Italy
3
Neurochirurgia Funzionale e Clinica Tourette, IRCCS
Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
4
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico
Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
5
Unità Operativa Parkinson e Disordini del Movimento,
IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mondino, Pavia, Italy
6
Unità di Ricerca Applicata per le Scienze Cognitive e
Psicologiche, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy
7
Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei
Trapianti, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Correspondence to Professor Alberto Priori, Centro
Clinico per la Neurostimolazione, le
Neurotecnologie ed i Disordini del Movimento,
Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda, Ospedale Maggiore
Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, Milan 20122,
Italy; alberto.priori@unimi.it
Contributors MF and MR contributed equally to this
study. MF, MR and GG were involved in conception,
organisation and execution; design and execution and
writing of the first draft. SM was involved in
conception; review and critique and writing of the first
draft. CL was involved in conception; review and
critique. DS and AF were involved in conception,
organisation and execution; review and critique. CP and
LR were involved in review and critique. AA, MP, GP
and AP were involved in conception; review and
critique.
Funding ERANET-Neuron Grant ‘PhysiolDBS’
(Neuron-48-013).
Competing interests None.
Patient consent Obtained.
Ethics approval Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda
Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned;
externally peer reviewed.
To cite Fumagalli M, Rosa M, Giannicola G, et al.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Published Online First:
[please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/jnnp-
2014-307912
Received 18 February 2014
Revised 30 May 2014
Accepted 15 June 2014
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2014;0:1–3.
doi:10.1136/jnnp-2014-307912
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3 Rosa M, Fumagalli M, Giannicola G, et al.
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Mov Disord 2013;28:1644–52.
4 Cavanagh JF, Wiecki TV, Cohen MX, et al.
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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Month 2014 Vol 0 No 0 3
PostScript
group.bmj.com on September 19, 2014 - Published by jnnp.bmj.comDownloaded from
doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-307912
published online July 12, 2014J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
Manuela Fumagalli, Manuela Rosa, Gaia Giannicola, et al.
gamblers
reward and its dysfunction in parkinsonian
Subthalamic involvement in monetary
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