Precision Imaging for Intraindividual Investigation of the Reward Response

The reliance of fMRI research on between-person comparisons is limited by low test-retest reliability and inability to explain within-person processes. Intraindividual studies are needed to understand how changes in brain functioning relate to changes in behavior. Here, we present open data and analysis of a novel intensively sampled fMRI study, the Night Owls Scan Club. This precision imaging dataset includes 44 sessions acquired across four participants at a twice-weekly rate. In each session, participants completed multiple reward-related tasks, mood and alertness ratings, and a behavioral mood manipulation. We examined how the reward response reflects between-person or within-person variance. Test-retest-reliability of the reward response was very low and not explained by measurement error, suggesting little utility for between-person comparisons. At an intraindividual level, the mood induction showed small increases in the reward anticipation response. Additionally, mood and alertness explained notable intraindividual variance of the reward response, including as much as 31% for one participant. Overall, results suggest that BOLD activation to reward tasks - and likely other fMRI tasks - is more appropriate for within-person study than between-person study, highlighting a need for intensive longitudinal neuroimaging designs.