Sex differences in neural responsivity to reward and loss: Associations with triarchic model traits and antisocial behavior

Abstract

Deficits in response to reward and loss are implicated in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy. This study examined sex differences in associations of neural response to reward and loss with triarchic model traits and ASPD symptoms. Functional neuroimaging data was collected during a monetary incentive delay task from 158 participants. We predicted that males high in ASPD would show greater neural response to reward anticipation and less neural response to loss. Analyses examining the triarchic model were exploratory. A significant sex by Boldness interaction was associated with left nucleus accumbens response during loss anticipation. There were also significant sex by ASPD associations with left nucleus accumbens and left amygdala activation during the loss feedback condition and left nucleus accumbens during loss anticipation. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the effects of sex and triarchic model traits when examining reward and loss processing in the context of antisocial behavior.