Counterfactual thinking and reward processing: An fMRI study of responses to gamble outcomes

► We performed an fMRI gambling paradigm on counterfactual thinking. ► Found mixed positive and negative affect for outcomes influenced by comparisons. ► Frontal and parietal regions were more active for mixed emotional outcomes. ► Subcortical and prefrontal reward/punishment areas were sensitive to comparisons. ► Activity in reward/punishment regions correlated with ratings of mixed emotions.