Probing the Association of a Behavioral Measure of Optimistic Bias with Depressive Symptoms and Reward Sensitivity

Prior research by Tali Sharot and colleagues using a belief-updating task suggests that optimistic bias is sensitive to changes in brain dopamine levels. Two highly cited studies with small samples (N < 40) from the same research group further suggest that this optimistic bias correlates with depressive symptoms. The current study aims to (conceptually) replicate this association in a considerably larger sample and to test for the first time whether optimistic bias is also associated with trait reward sensitivity (i.e., a trait theoretically associated with brain dopamine levels). In addition, to inform interpretation of potential associations we aim to probe the reliability of this measure of optimistic bias for the first time. Results of this study will add an individual differences perspective to an ongoing debate on the validity of the belief-updating task.