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. 2020 Jun 23:3:e7.
doi: 10.1017/pen.2020.7. eCollection 2020.

A low dosage of the dopamine D2-receptor antagonist sulpiride affects effort allocation for reward regardless of trait extraversion

Hanno Andreas Ohmann  1 , Niclas Kuper  1   2 , Jan Wacker  1
Affiliations

A low dosage of the dopamine D2-receptor antagonist sulpiride affects effort allocation for reward regardless of trait extraversion

Hanno Andreas Ohmann et al. Personal Neurosci. .

Abstract

Dopamine (DA) is known to be involved in various aspects of reward processing and goal-directed behavior. The present preregistered study aims at directly accessing the causal influence of DA activity on reward motivation in humans, while also accounting for trait extraversion. Therefore, we examined the effect of a single dose of the DA D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (200 mg) on effort allocation in a modified version of the Effort-Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT). Based on its presumably DA increasing action, we expected the low dose of sulpiride to increase participants' willingness to allocate effort during the modified EEfRT relative to placebo, especially in trials with low probability of reward attainment. Further, we expected a moderating effect of trait extraversion on the effects of sulpiride. Two hundred and three healthy male participants were tested in a randomized, double-blind between-subjects design. Contrary to our expectations, sulpiride reduced the average number of clicks within the modified EEfRT and did not interact with reward attributes, suggesting a more global and not reward-specific effect of sulpiride. Furthermore, trait extraversion did not moderate the effect of sulpiride. Our results provide initial support for the validity of the modified version of the EEfRT, suggesting a possible inhibiting effect of a low dose of sulpiride on approach motivation regardless of trait extraversion. However, given the mixed pattern of findings and the possible confounding role of motoric abilities, further studies examining these effects are clearly warranted.

Keywords: Approach motivation; Dopamine; EEfRT; Sulpiride; Trait extraversion.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic illustration of one trial of the modified EEfRT. A fixation cross (1s, A) is followed by a screen showing probability of reward attainment and reward magnitude per click for 3s (B). Then, after a ready – screen (1s, C), the main screen for the trial showing a red bar that grows with each click is presented alongside a scale, indicating the current monetary gain and a countdown (20s, D). Finally, task completion is signaled (1,5s, E) and a feedback screen shows the amount of money won (2s, F).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean number of clicks adjusted for participants’ motoric abilities, comparing trials with low probability of reward attainment (left), medium probability of reward attainment (middle), and high probability of reward attainment (right) as compared between both substance groups (sulpiride groups is shown in red and placebo group is shown in blue). Data points are added as dots for individual scores. Error bars depict a 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mean number of clicks adjusted for participants’ motoric abilities, comparing trials with different reward magnitude per click, ranging from 1 cent (most left) to 5 cent (most right) as compared between both substance groups (sulpiride groups is shown in red and placebo group is shown in blue). Data points are added as dots for individual scores. Error bars depict a 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mean number of clicks adjusted for participants’ motoric abilities, comparing trials with low probability of reward attainment (left), medium probability of reward attainment (middle), and high probability of reward attainment (right) as compared between participants with high extraversion (shown in red) and participants with low extraversion (shown in blue). Extraversion categories were obtained by splitting data into two equally sized groups. Data points are added as dots for individual scores. Error bars depict a 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean.
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