The angiotensin antagonist Losartan shifts social reward motivation and
punishment sensitivity via modulating midbrain-striato-frontal circuits
Abstract
Background Social deficits and dysregulations in dopaminergic
midbrain-striato-frontal circuits represent transdiagnostic symptoms
across psychiatric disorders. Animal models suggest that modulating
interactions between the dopamine and renin-angiotensin system with the
angiotensin receptor antagonist Losartan (LT) can modulate learning and
reward-related processes. We have therefore determined the behavioral
and neural effects of LT on social reward and punishment processing in
humans. Methods A pre-registered randomized double-blind
placebo-controlled between-subject pharmacological design was combined
with a social incentive delay fMRI paradigm during which subjects could
avoid social punishment or gain social reward. Healthy volunteers
received a single-dose of LT (50mg, n=43) or placebo (n=44). Reaction
times and emotional ratings served as behavioral outcomes, on the neural
level activation, connectivity and social feedback prediction errors
were modelled. Results Relative to placebo, LT switched reaction times
and arousal away from prioritizing punishment towards social reward. On
the neural level the LT-enhanced motivational salience of social rewards
was accompanied by stronger ventral striatum-prefrontal connectivity
during reward anticipation and attenuated activity in the ventral
tegmental area (VTA) and associated connectivity with the bilateral
insula in response to punishment during the outcome phase. Computational
modelling further revealed an LT-enhanced social reward prediction error
signal in VTA and dorsal striatum. Conclusions LT shifted motivational
and emotional salience away from social punishment towards social reward
via modulating distinct core nodes of the midbrain-striato-frontal
circuits. The findings document a modulatory role of the
renin-angiotensin system in these circuits and associated social
processes, suggesting a promising treatment target to alleviate social
dysregulations.