Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Aldrian, A.
The relationship of chronic stress and reward sensitivity as measured by the Contrasted Transient Response.
[ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] Universität Graz; 2021.
FullText
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Lackner Helmut Karl
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Chronic stress has detrimental effects on physical and psychological health. Studies have demonstrated that chronically stressed individuals show less behavioral reward sensitivity, less neuronal activity in reward-related areas as well as structural changes in areas of the brain responsible for reward processing, leading to symptoms of anhedonia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of chronic stress on reward sensitivity as measured by the novel psychophysiological ECG indicator Contrasted Transient Response (CTR). We used an anagram-paradigm utilizing the rewarding nature of moments of insight and monetary reward. Eighty individuals took part in the study (44 women, 36 men). The CTR did respond to the rewarding nature of moments of insight but was not dependent on monetary reward. Self-report measures of reward reactivity were also positively associated with the CTR. A linear association between chronic stress and the CTR was no shown. Furthermore, chronic stress was positively associated with Behavioral Inhibition tendency and negatively associated with Reward Interest. These results indicate that the CTR is a valid measure of reward sensitivity, when the reward is intrinsic like moments of insight are. Chronic stress might not have a linear effect on reward sensitivity, in such a way that severe chronic stress might have a stronger effect on reward sensitivity than low chronic stress.