Imagine for tomorrow, what you cannot feel now – The role of anhedonia in imagery-enhanced behavioral activation

Preliminary evidence suggests that mental imagery-based elaboration of rewarding activities enhances anticipated pleasure, motivation, and behavioral engagement in non-clinical samples, but its effects in individuals experiencing anhedonia (loss of pleasure/interest) is unclear. Study 1 (N = 90) contrasted imagery-enhanced activity scheduling with two scheduling-only control conditions (Reminder/No Reminder Control) in an unselected sample. Study 2 (N = 108) compared imagery-enhanced activity scheduling with two control conditions (Neutral Imagery/Motivational Verbal Reasoning) in individuals experiencing mild to moderate anhedonia. Both studies measured changes in activity appraisal (anticipated pleasure, anticipated reward/mastery, motivation) in the lab, and behavioral engagement across a subsequent 7-day period. Additionally, Study 2 assessed heart rate as a psychophysiological marker of emotional response across conditions. Results showed that anticipated pleasure increased more in the imagery-enhanced activity scheduling condition compared to control conditions in Study 1, but not Study 2. Across both studies, conditions did not differ regarding changes in anticipated reward/mastery, motivation, or behavioral engagement. The present findings indicate that although mental imagery may enhance anticipated pleasure in non-clinical individuals, its effects in participants experiencing anhedonia remains to be further investigated.