Discussion
fatigue
RECRUITMENT
Despite MS participants reporting greater trait and state fatigue, they performed comparably to their NT peers, displaying similar patterns of better associative memory performance after receiving performance feedback. After accounting for state CF, we found similar patterns of cortico-striatal recruitment – largely within the VS caudate, and vmPFC – in both groups during feedback processing. Functional connectivity analyses, however, revealed group differences in striatal connectivity. MS participants displayed more enhanced connectivity between the VS and left AG and between the VS and right STG, compared to NT participants. Results also indicate potential reductions in connectivity between the caudate and dACC in response to CF during positive feedback outcomes in MS participants. Collectively, these results suggest that CF might influence cortico-striatal connectivity in MS during feedback processing, but not to a degree that interferes with learning from feedback. However, people with MS may instead recruit alternative striatal connections to assist with this form of learning.