SynthesisCognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience2020
Characterizing anhedonia: A systematic review of neuroimaging across the subtypes of reward processing deficits in depression.
Synthesis in Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 119 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
119 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 182 citations in OpenAlex.
- Meta-analysis of neural correlates of working memory, reward, and emotion processing in major depressive disorder using AES-SDM.BMC psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of ketamine on reward processing in depressive disorders: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies.CNS spectrums · 2026Pooled it
- Investigating the effect of increased dopamine signaling on cerebral blood flow in Major Depressive Disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Trial
- Positive Affect Treatment for Depression, Anxiety, and Low Positive Affect: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2026Trial
- Effects of the KCNQ (Kv7) Channel Opener Ezogabine on Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Striatal Brain Reward Regions, Depression, and Anhedonia in Major Depressive Disorder: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.Biological psychiatry · 2025Trial
- Selective KOR antagonist alters functional patch sizes in individualized brain system: results from the Fast-fail Trial in Mood and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders (FAST-MAS).Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025Trial
- Dissociable effects of psilocybin and escitalopram for depression on processing of musical surprises.Molecular psychiatry · 2025Trial
- Azetukalner, a Novel KV7 Potassium Channel Opener, in Adults With Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2025Trial
- Examining a Fully Automated Mobile-Based Behavioral Activation Intervention in Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mental health · 2024Trial
- Amplification of positivity for depression and anxiety: Neural prediction of treatment response.Behaviour research and therapy · 2024Trial
- Reduced anhedonia following internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression is mediated by enhanced reward circuit activation.Psychological medicine · 2023Trial
- Positive affect treatment targets reward sensitivity: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of consulting and clinical psychology · 2023Trial
- Emotional Responses (Intensity/Valence) Fulfill RDoC Criteria but Remain Excluded From Diagnostic Classifications of Mood Disorders.Bipolar disorders · 2026Review
- Neuropathophysiological changes associated with mirtazapine treatment response in major depressive disorder: insights into bottom-up dopaminergic pathways and prefrontal control networks.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Article
- Music Therapy for Reduction of Anhedonia: Protocol for a Sequential Mixed Methods Pre-Post Pilot Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Temporal Dynamics of Reward Dysfunction in Psychiatric Disorders: Memory-Derived Value, Incentive Salience, Hedonic Impact, and Value Updating.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2026Review
- Dopaminergic modulation of social reward anticipation in depression: neural effects of amisulpride versus placebo.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Research agenda to advance anhedonia assessment, understanding and treatment: an ECNP-GALENOS expert meeting report.BMJ mental health · 2026Review
- A protocol for the Teen Bugs study: An integrative, multi-omics approach to understanding the role of the gut microbiome and mesocorticolimbic system in adolescent mental health following early adverse caregiving.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Article
- Blunted Reward Responsiveness During Social Feedback: Associations with Peer Victimization and Anhedonia in Socially Anxious Adolescents.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
59 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Anhedonia is a key symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and comprises behavioural deficits in three reward processing subtypes: reward liking, reward wanting, and reward learning. However, neuroimaging findings regarding the neural abnormalities underpinning these deficits are complex. We have conducted a systematic review to update, reframe and summarize neuroimaging findings across the three subtypes of anhedonia in MDD. Using PubMed, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, we identified 59 fMRI studies comparing participants with current or remitted MDD with controls, using reward processing tasks. For reward liking and wanting, striatal hypoactivation was observed, alongside hypoactivation and hyperactivation across frontal regions. For reward learning, blunted frontostriatal sensitivity to positive feedback was observed. These findings highlight the importance of studying anhedonia not only as a clinical manifestation but also as a neurobiological mechanism underlying depressive disorder and other broader psychiatric conditions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.