1. 1
Motivation and Effort in
Schizophrenia
Deanna M. Barch
Washington University

2. Mechanisms of motivation & goal-directed action
2
Hedonics (liking)
Opioid and GABA systems in
striatum, OFC
Reward Prediction
(wanting),Reinforcement learning
Dopaminergic systems
and basal ganglia
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Computing effort of
plan in relationship to
reward value (ACC)
Integration of information
to update and maintain
values (OFC)
Constructing
action
plans to obtain
valued outcomes
(DLPFC)
Behavioral Response
Components of Reward to Outcome Translation
Note: After Wallis (2007)
How much effort are
folks with DEP or SCZ
willing to put out?

3. Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task (“EEfRT”)
3
Treadway et al., 2009 50% and 88%
probability
conditions
30 responses in 7
seconds with non-dominant
pinky in
Easy Task
Condition
100 responses in
21seconds with
non-dominant
pinky in Hard Task
Condition

4. 4
EEfRT in Schizophrenia
Diagnostic Group
X Reward
Magnitude
Interaction, F(3,
288) = 3.30, p<.05
#
)
[<$1.96] [$1.96 - <$2.77] [$2.77 - <$3.58] [>=$3.58]
Barch, Treadway & Schoen, 2014
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
% Choice of Hard Task
CTL N = 39
SCZ N = 54
Hard Task Value
CON
SCZ
(ES = -.10)
(ES = 0.10)
(ES = 0.30
(ES = 0.43*)
# p<.10, * p<.05
SCZ show less of
an increase in
“effort”
expenditure as
magnitude of
reward goes up
No impairment at
lower reward
levels

5. 5
EEfRT in Schizophrenia
CTL N = 39
SCZ N = 54
CON
SCZ
[ES = 0.02]
[ES = 0.36
50% 88%
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
% Choice of Hard Task
Hard Task Value
#
]
# p<.10
Diagnostic Group
X Reward
Probability
Interaction, F(1, 96)
= 2.25, p<.05
SCZ show less of
an increase in
“effort”
expenditure as
probability of
reward goes up
No impairment at
low probability
Barch, Treadway & Schoen, 2014

6. 6
EEfRT in Schizophrenia
Likelihood of choosing hard task correlated with informant
CTL N = 39
SCZ N = 54
rated work and community function
r = .36, p<.01 r = .38, p<.01
Barch, Treadway & Schoen, 2014