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Lohnas LJ, Howard MW. The influence of emotion on temporal context models. Cogn Emot 2024:1-29. [PMID: 39007902 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2371075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Temporal context models (TCMs) have been influential in understanding episodic memory and its neural underpinnings. Recently, TCMs have been extended to explain emotional memory effects, one of the most clinically important findings in the field of memory research. This review covers recent advances in hypotheses for the neural representation of spatiotemporal context through the lens of TCMs, including their ability to explain the influence of emotion on episodic and temporal memory. In recent years, simplifying assumptions of "classical" TCMs - with exponential trace decay and the mechanism by which temporal context is recovered - have become increasingly clear. The review also outlines how recent advances could be incorporated into a future TCM, beyond classical assumptions, to integrate emotional modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn J Lohnas
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Marc W Howard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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2
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Wang Y, Becker B, Wang J, Wang Y, Zhang L, Mei Y, Li H, Lei Y. Exaggerated sensitivity to threat and reduced medial prefrontal engagement during threat generalization in reactive aggressive adolescents. Neuroimage 2024; 294:120645. [PMID: 38734156 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggressive adolescents tend to exhibit abnormal fear acquisition and extinction, and reactive aggressive adolescents are often more anxious. However, the relationship between fear generalization and reactive aggression (RA) remains unknown. According to Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) scores, 61 adolescents were divided into two groups, namely, a high RA group (N = 30) and a low aggression (LA) group (N = 31). All participants underwent three consecutive phases of the Pavlovian conditioning paradigm (i.e., habituation, acquisition, and generalization), and neural activation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was assessed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The stimuli were ten circles with varying sizes, including two conditioned stimuli (CSs) and eight generalization stimuli (GSs). A scream at 85 dB served as the auditory unconditioned stimulus (US). The US expectancy ratings of both CSs and GSs were higher in the RA group than in the LA group. The fNIRS results showed that CSs and GSs evoked lower mPFC activation in the RA group compared to the LA group during fear generalization. These findings suggest that abnormalities in fear acquisition and generalization are prototypical dysregulations in adolescents with RA. They provide neurocognitive evidence for dysregulated fear learning in the mechanisms underlying adolescents with RA, highlighting the need to develop emotional regulation interventions for these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Wang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinxia Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liangyou Zhang
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ying Mei
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Hong Li
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Lei
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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3
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Cui K, Qi X, Liu Z, Sun W, Jiao P, Liu C, Tong J, Sun X, Sun H, Fu S, Wang J, Zheng Y, Liu T, Cui S, Liu F, Mao J, Zheng J, Wan Y, Yi M. Dominant activities of fear engram cells in the dorsal dentate gyrus underlie fear generalization in mice. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002679. [PMID: 38995985 PMCID: PMC11244812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over-generalized fear is a maladaptive response to harmless stimuli or situations characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. The dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) contains engram cells that play a crucial role in accurate memory retrieval. However, the coordination mechanism of neuronal subpopulations within the dDG network during fear generalization is not well understood. Here, with the Tet-off system combined with immunostaining and two-photon calcium imaging, we report that dDG fear engram cells labeled in the conditioned context constitutes a significantly higher proportion of dDG neurons activated in a similar context where mice show generalized fear. The activation of these dDG fear engram cells encoding the conditioned context is both sufficient and necessary for inducing fear generalization in the similar context. Activities of mossy cells in the ventral dentate gyrus (vMCs) are significantly suppressed in mice showing fear generalization in a similar context, and activating the vMCs-dDG pathway suppresses generalized but not conditioned fear. Finally, modifying fear memory engrams in the dDG with "safety" signals effectively rescues fear generalization. These findings reveal that the competitive advantage of dDG engram cells underlies fear generalization, which can be rescued by activating the vMCs-dDG pathway or modifying fear memory engrams, and provide novel insights into the dDG network as the neuronal basis of fear generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Cui
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Xuetao Qi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqi Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peijie Jiao
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Jifu Tong
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Haojie Sun
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Su Fu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yawen Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Cui
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyu Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Mao
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - You Wan
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Mei Y, Becker B, Leppänen PHT, Lei Y. Exploring the 'black box' of anxiety: An ERP study of non-consciously triggered fear generalization. Behav Res Ther 2024; 178:104552. [PMID: 38718631 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with anxiety disorders frequently display heightened fear responses, even in situations where there is no imminent danger. We hypothesize that these irrational fear responses are related to automatic processing of fear generalization. The initial automatic detection of stimuli often operates at a non-conscious level. However, whether fear generalization can occur when the cues are not perceived consciously remains unclear. The current study investigated the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying fear conditioning and its non-conscious and conscious generalization using a backward masking paradigm, combined with analysis of event-related potentials from electroencephalographic recordings. Behaviorally, participants showed heightened shock expectancy in response to non-conscious perceived generalization stimuli compared to those perceived consciously. Nonetheless, participants could not consciously distinguish between danger and safe cues in non-conscious trials. Physiologically, danger cues evoked larger frontal N1 amplitudes than safety cues in non-conscious trials, suggesting enhanced attention vigilance towards danger cues in the early sensory processing stage. Meanwhile, when fear generalization was conscious, it was accompanied by a larger P2 amplitude, indicating attention orientation or stimulus evaluation. In addition, fear conditioning was associated with sustained discrimination on P2, P3, and LPP. These findings collectively suggest that non-conscious fear generalization occurs at the neural level, yet additional control conditions are required to confirm this phenomenon on the US expectancy. Thus, non-consciously fear generalization may represent a mechanism that could trigger automatic irrational fear, highlighting the need for further research to explore therapeutic targets in anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Mei
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, 610066, China; Centre of Excellence for Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - Benjamin Becker
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paavo H T Leppänen
- Centre of Excellence for Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - Yi Lei
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, 610066, China.
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Alcan E, Benke C, Melzig CA. A threat from within: Learning to fear by observing aversive bodily symptoms in others. Behav Res Ther 2024; 178:104555. [PMID: 38718630 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Although observational fear learning has been implicated in the development of phobic-related fears, studies investigating observational learning of fear of bodily symptoms remain scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether fear in response to bodily symptoms can be acquired simply by observing a fearful reaction to provocation of aversive bodily symptoms in others. Forty healthy participants underwent an observational fear conditioning paradigm consisting of two phases. In the first phase, participants observed a demonstrator reacting to an aversive bodily symptom provocation (unconditioned stimulus or US, i.e., labored breathing) paired with one conditioned stimulus (CS+) but not with the other one (CS-, both CSs were geometric symbols presented on a screen the demonstrator was watching). In the second phase, participants were directly presented with the same conditioned stimuli, but in the absence of the US. Our results revealed enhanced conditioned fear responses in the beginning of the second phase to the CS + as compared to CS-, as indexed by greater skin conductance and subjective fear responses, as well as greater potentiation of startle eyeblink responses to the CS + as compared to the ITI. Taken together, these findings implicate that fear of bodily symptoms can be learned through observation of others, that is, without first-hand experience of bodily threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ena Alcan
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Christoph Benke
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christiane A Melzig
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Li X, Yang Y, Wang R, Zhou L, Zheng X. Secure attachment priming inhibits the generalization of conditioned fear. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:358. [PMID: 38890761 PMCID: PMC11186254 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01857-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear overgeneralization constitutes a susceptibility factor contributing to the development and maintenance of anxiety spectrum disorders. Extant research has demonstrated that exposure to positive and supportive social relationships attenuates fear acquisition and promotes the extinction of conditioned fear responses. However, the literature lacks investigation into the effect of secure attachment priming on inhibiting the generalization of conditioned fear. METHODS In this study, college students were recruited via online platforms to voluntarily engage in the experimental procedures, resulting in 57 subjects whose data were deemed suitable for analysis. The experimental protocol consisted of four consecutive phases: pre-acquisition, acquisition, priming, and generalization. The priming phase consisted of two experimental conditions: secure attachment priming (experimental group) and positive emotion priming (control group). This study adopted the perceptual discrimination fear conditioning paradigm, employing subjective expectancy of shock ratings and skin conductance responses as primary assessment indices. Individual difference variables were measured using corresponding psychological measurement scales. RESULTS In terms of generalization degree, a notable divergence surfaced in the skin conductance responses across various generalization materials between the secure attachment priming group and the control group. Similarly, during generalization extinction, a significant disparity emerged in the skin conductance responses across different generalization phases between the secure attachment priming group and the control group. In addition, individual differences analyses revealed that the inhibitory effect of secure attachment priming on fear generalization was not affected by intolerance of uncertainty and attachment orientations. Conversely, slope analyses confirmed that as intolerance of uncertainty increased, the inhibitory effect of positive emotion priming on fear generalization was attenuated. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that activating participants' representations of secure attachment via imagination effectively attenuates the generalization of perceptual fear at the physiological level. The inhibitory effect of secure attachment priming appears to be distinct from positive emotional modulation and remains unaffected by individual trait attachment styles. These results offer novel insights and avenues for the prevention and clinical intervention of anxiety spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Li
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China.
| | - Yong Yang
- School of Educational Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Ranran Wang
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China
| | - Lehong Zhou
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China
| | - Xifu Zheng
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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Genheimer H, Pauli P, Andreatta M. Elemental and configural representation of a conditioned context. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115119. [PMID: 38906481 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
A context can be conceptualized as a stable arrangement of elements or as the sum of single elements. Both configural and elemental representations play a role in associative processes. This study aimed to explore the respective contributions of these two representations of a context in the acquisition of conditioned anxiety in humans. Virtual reality (VR) can be an ecologically valid tool to investigate context-related mechanisms, yet the influence of the sense of presence within the virtual environment remains unclear. Forty-eight healthy individuals participated in a VR-based context conditioning wherein electric shocks (unconditioned stimulus, US) were unpredictably delivered in one virtual office (CTX+), but not in the other (CTX-). During the test phase, nine elements from each context were presented singularly. We found a cluster of participants, who exhibited heightened anticipation of the US for anxiety-related elements as compared to the other group. In contrast to their clear elemental representation, these individuals showed diminished discriminative responses between the two context's configurations. Discriminative responses to the contexts were boosted in those individuals, who had a weaker elemental representation. Importantly, the individual sense of presence significantly influenced the conditioned responses. These findings align with the dual-representation view of context and provide insights into the role of presence in eliciting (conditioned) anxiety responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Genheimer
- Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Germany; Center of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marta Andreatta
- General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
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Kesim IE, Pittig A, Wong AHK. The effect of typicality training on costly safety behavior generalization. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024:10.1007/s00426-024-01979-0. [PMID: 38822864 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-024-01979-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Typicality asymmetry in generalization refers to enhanced fear generalization when trained with typical compared to atypical exemplars. Typical exemplars are highly representative of their category, whereas atypical exemplars are less representative. Individual risk factors, such as trait anxiety, attenuate this effect, due to the high level of threat ambiguity of atypical exemplars. Although recent research provided evidence for generalization of safety behavior, it is unclear whether this generalization also follows typicality asymmetry. This study examined (1) whether participants exhibited typicality asymmetry in the generalization of safety behavior and (2) whether this effect would be attenuated by individual risk factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty and trait anxiety. METHODS Participants were trained with either typical (Typical group, n = 53) or atypical (Atypical group, n = 55) exemplars in a fear and avoidance conditioning procedure. Participants acquired differential conditioned fear and costly safety behavior to the threat- and safety-related exemplars. In a following Generalization Test, the degree of safety behavior to novel exemplars of the same categories was tested. RESULTS The Atypical group showed greater differential safety behavior responses compared to the Typical group. Higher trait anxiety was associated with lower differential safety behavior generalization, driven by an increase in generalized responding to novel safety-related exemplars. LIMITATIONS This study used hypothetical cost instead of real cost. CONCLUSIONS Training with atypical exemplars led to greater safety behavior generalization. Moreover, individuals with high trait anxiety show impaired safety behavior generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Işık E Kesim
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Rotterdam, 3062 PA, The Netherlands
| | - Andre Pittig
- Translational Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Kurze-Geismar-Straße 1, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alex H K Wong
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Rotterdam, 3062 PA, The Netherlands.
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Rosenberg BM, Young KS, Nusslock R, Zinbarg RE, Craske MG. Anhedonia is associated with overgeneralization of conditioned fear during late adolescence and early adulthood. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 105:102880. [PMID: 38833961 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pavlovian fear paradigms involve learning to associate cues with threat or safety. Aberrances in Pavlovian fear learning correlate with psychopathology, especially anxiety disorders. This study evaluated symptom dimensions of anxiety and depression in relation to Pavlovian fear acquisition and generalization. METHODS 256 participants (70.31 % female) completed a Pavlovian fear acquisition and generalization paradigm at ages 18-19 and 21-22 years. Analyses focused on indices of learning (self-reported US expectancy, skin conductance). Multilevel models tested associations with orthogonal symptom dimensions (Anhedonia-Apprehension, Fears, General Distress) at each timepoint. RESULTS All dimensions were associated with weaker acquisition of US expectancies at each timepoint. Fears was associated with overgeneralization only at age 21-22. General Distress was associated with overgeneralization only at age 18-19. Anhedonia-Apprehension was associated with overgeneralization at ages 18-19 and 21-22. CONCLUSIONS Anhedonia-Apprehension disrupts Pavlovian fear acquisition and increases overgeneralization of fear. These effects may emerge during adolescence and remain into young adulthood. General Distress and Fears also contribute to overgeneralization of fear, but these effects may vary as prefrontal mechanisms of fear inhibition continue to develop during late adolescence. Targeting specific symptom dimensions, particularly Anhedonia-Apprehension, may decrease fear generalization and augment interventions built on Pavlovian principles, such as exposure therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Rosenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Katherine S Young
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Nusslock
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Richard E Zinbarg
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Webler RD, Morales Carrasco C, Cooper SE, Chen M, Hunt CO, Hennessy S, Cao L, Lam C, Chiu A, Differding C, Todd E, Hendrickson TJ, Oathes DJ, Widge AS, Hermosillo RJ, Nelson SM, Fair DA, Lissek SM, Nahas Z. Causally Probing the Role of the Hippocampus in Fear Discrimination: A Precision Functional Mapping-Guided, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study in Participants With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100309. [PMID: 38690260 PMCID: PMC11059300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Fear overgeneralization is a promising pathogenic mechanism of clinical anxiety. A dominant model posits that hippocampal pattern separation failures drive overgeneralization. Hippocampal network-targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation (HNT-TMS) has been shown to strengthen hippocampal-dependent learning/memory processes. However, no study has examined whether HNT-TMS can alter fear learning/memory. Methods Continuous theta burst stimulation was delivered to individualized left posterior parietal stimulation sites derived via seed-based connectivity, precision functional mapping, and electric field modeling methods. A vertex control site was also stimulated in a within-participant, randomized controlled design. Continuous theta burst stimulation was delivered prior to 2 visual discrimination tasks (1 fear based, 1 neutral). Multilevel models were used to model and test data. Participants were undergraduates with posttraumatic stress symptoms (final n = 25). Results Main analyses did not indicate that HNT-TMS strengthened discrimination. However, multilevel interaction analyses revealed that HNT-TMS strengthened fear discrimination in participants with lower fear sensitization (indexed by responses to a control stimulus with no similarity to the conditioned fear cue) across multiple indices (anxiety ratings: β = 0.10, 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.17, p = .001; risk ratings: β = 0.07, 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.13, p = .037). Conclusions Overgeneralization is an associative process that reflects deficient discrimination of the fear cue from similar cues. In contrast, sensitization reflects nonassociative responding unrelated to fear cue similarity. Our results suggest that HNT-TMS may selectively sharpen fear discrimination when associative response patterns, which putatively implicate the hippocampus, are more strongly engaged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Webler
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | | | - Samuel E. Cooper
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Mo Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Christopher O. Hunt
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Sierra Hennessy
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Lancy Cao
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Carol Lam
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Allen Chiu
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Cash Differding
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Erin Todd
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Timothy J. Hendrickson
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Desmond J. Oathes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alik S. Widge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Robert J.M. Hermosillo
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Steven M. Nelson
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Damien A. Fair
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Shmuel M. Lissek
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ziad Nahas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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11
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Tang Q, Wang R, Niu H, Li Y, Li Y, Hu Z, Liu X, Tao Y. Mapping network connection and direction among symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic gastritis. Psych J 2024. [PMID: 38616130 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Regarding neurophysiological and developmental findings, anxiety and depression are usual comorbidities of gastritis patients. However, research related to anxiety and depression among chronic gastritis patients was conducted on the disease level while ignoring symptoms. Hence, we rendered the network approach to reveal the symptoms of anxiety and depression among chronic gastritis patients. Three hundred and sixty-nine chronic gastritis patients (female = 139, Mage = 55.87 years) were asked to complete the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Three symptom networks and one directed acyclic graph (DAG) network were formed. First, in the anxiety network of chronic gastritis patients, dizziness was the most influential symptom. In the depression network of chronic gastritis patients, depressed affect and psychomotor retardation were the influential symptoms. Second, panic, easy fatiguability, weakness, palpitation, depressed affect, tachycardia, fatigue, and psychomotor agitation bridged the anxiety-depression network of chronic gastritis patients. Third, DAG networks showed that anxiousness and hopelessness could trigger other symptoms in the anxiety-depression networks of chronic gastritis patients. The current study provided insightful information on patients with chronic gastritis by examining the structures of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihui Tang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Haiqun Niu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifang Li
- Department of Chinese Medicine Nursing, School of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yuting Li
- Department of Chinese Medicine Nursing, School of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichao Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xiangping Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqiang Tao
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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12
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Wu Q, Xu L, Wan J, Yu Z, Lei Y. Intolerance of uncertainty affects the behavioral and neural mechanisms of higher generalization. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae153. [PMID: 38615238 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is associated with several anxiety disorders. In this study, we employed rewards and losses as unconditioned positive and negative stimuli, respectively, to explore the effects of an individual's IU level on positive and negative generalizations using magnetic resonance imaging technology. Following instrumental learning, 48 participants (24 high IU; 24 low IU) were invited to complete positive and negative generalization tasks; their behavioral responses and neural activities were recorded by functional magnetic resonance imaging. The behavior results demonstrated that participants with high IUs exhibited higher generalizations to both positive and negative cues as compared with participants having low IUs. Neuroimaging results demonstrated that they exhibited higher activation levels in the right anterior insula and the default mode network (i.e. precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus), as well as related reward circuits (i.e. caudate and right putamen). Therefore, higher generalization scores and the related abnormal brain activation may be key markers of IU as a vulnerability factor for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wu
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, China
| | - Jiaming Wan
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, China
| | - Zhang Yu
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, China
| | - Yi Lei
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, China
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13
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Lommen MJJ, Hoekstra S, van den Brink RHS, Lenaert B. Fear generalization predicts post-traumatic stress symptoms: A two-year follow-up study in Dutch fire fighters. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 103:102855. [PMID: 38484507 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Excessive fear generalization has been associated with pathological anxiety, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, studies investigating the longitudinal relationship between generalization and the development of anxiety symptomatology are scarce. This study aims to test the predictive value of fear generalization for PTSD symptoms in a high-risk profession sample and to explore the relationship between generalization and neuroticism, which are both linked to PTSD. METHOD Longitudinal data from a multi-wave study in 529 Dutch fire-fighters were used. Fear generalization, PTSD symptoms and neuroticism were assessed at baseline. PTSD symptoms were reevaluated at six, 12, 18, and 24 months. Generalization was assessed in a differential conditioning paradigm by measuring expectancies of an aversive outcome when presented with stimuli similar to previously conditioned stimuli. RESULTS Higher expectancy ratings towards stimuli most similar to safety signals predicted PTSD symptoms at follow-up after controlling for baseline PTSD symptoms, whereas higher expectancy ratings towards stimuli most similar to danger signals was associated with neuroticism. Neuroticism weakened the predictive power of fear generalization when considered simultaneously. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that heightened fear generalization is associated with the development of anxiety and trauma-related symptoms. Targeting problematic fear generalization may be a promising intervention approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam J J Lommen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Rob H S van den Brink
- Department of Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bert Lenaert
- Department of Life Span Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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14
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Gao Y, Fan M, Li Y, Zhao S, Chen W, Zhang D, Zheng X. Contingency Reversal in Conditioned Fear Learning: The Moderated Mediation Model of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Instruction. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:1007-1020. [PMID: 38500554 PMCID: PMC10945213 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s447426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The study aimed to examine the roles of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in conditioned fear learning under an uncertain context induced by the contingency reversal of the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus (CS-US). Methods The study sample comprised 53 participants, randomly divided into two groups: a non-instruction group and an instruction group. The experimental procedure encompassed five stages: pre-acquisition, acquisition, generalization, reversal acquisition, and reversal generalization. Our study primarily focused on analyzing a moderated mediation model. Results In the instructed group, we observed that the reversed fear generalization response was directly influenced by the pre-reversal fear generalization response, while also being indirectly mediated by the IU factor. However, in the non-instructed group, we did not find a significant mediating effect of IU. Moreover, we noted that the mediation of IU was contingent on the instructional information. It is noteworthy that anxiety did not exhibit a discernible role in conditioned fear within the uncertainty condition in our study. Conclusion The findings provide novel insights into fear-related phenomena, emphasizing the intricate interplay between individual traits and fear generalization under conditions of uncertainty. They contribute to understanding the mechanisms of emotional and cognitive interactions in uncertain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Fan
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Li
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaochen Zhao
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Policing Model Innovation Research Center, China People’s Police University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Donghuan Zhang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xifu Zheng
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition, and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510663, People’s Republic of China
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15
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Boehme S, Herrmann MJ, Mühlberger A. Good moments to stimulate the brain - A randomized controlled double-blinded study on anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex on two different time points in a two-day fear conditioning paradigm. Behav Brain Res 2024; 460:114804. [PMID: 38103872 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
It is assumed that extinction learning is a suitable model for understanding the mechanisms underlying exposure therapy. Furthermore, there is evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) can elevate extinction learning by enhancing frontal brain activity and therefore NIBS can augment symptom reduction during exposure therapy in phobias. But, the underlying processes are still not well established. Open questions arise from NIBS time points and electrode placement, among others. Therefore, we investigated in a 2-day fear conditioning experiment, whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) modulates either fear memory consolidation or dampened fear reaction during fear extinction. Sixty-six healthy participants were randomly assigned either to a group that received tDCS after fear acquisition (and before fear memory consolidation), to a group that received tDCS directly before fear extinction, or to a control group that never received active stimulation (sham). Differential skin conductance response (SCR) to CS+ vs. CS- was significantly decreased in both tDCS-groups compared to sham group. Our region of interest, the vmPFC, was stimulated best focally with a lateral anode position and a cathode on the contralateral side. But this comes along with a slightly lateral stimulation of vmPFC depending on whether anode is placed left or right. To avoid unintended effects of stimulated sides the two electrode montages (anode left or right) were mirror-inverted which led to differential effects in SCR and electrocortical (mainly late positive potential [LPP]) data in our exploratory analyses. Results indicated that tDCS-timing is relevant for fear reactions via disturbed fear memory consolidation as well as fear expression, and this depends on whether vmPFC is stimulated with either left- or right-sided anode electrode montage. Electrocortical data can shed more light on the underlying neural correlates and exaggerated LPP seems to be associated with disturbed fear memory consolidation and dampened SCR to CS+ vs. CS-, but solely in the right anode electrode montage. Further open questions addressing where and when to stimulate the prefrontal brain in the course of augmenting fear extinction are raised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Boehme
- Department of Psychology, Chair for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Wilhelm-Raabe-Straße 43, D-09120 Chemnitz, Germany; Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Martin J Herrmann
- Center of Mental Health, Dept. of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Margarete-Hoeppel-Platz 1, D-97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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16
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Meulders A, Traxler J, Vandael K, Scheepers S. High-Anxious People Generalize Costly Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior More to Novel Safe Contexts Compared to Low-Anxious People. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:702-714. [PMID: 37832901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Pain-related avoidance is adaptive when there is a bodily threat, but when it generalizes to safe movements/situations, it may become disabling. Both subclinical anxiety-a vulnerability marker for chronic pain-and chronic pain are associated with excessive fear generalization to safe stimuli/situations. Previous research focused mainly on passive fear correlates (psychophysiological arousal and self-reports) leaving avoidance behavior poorly understood. Therefore, we tested whether high-anxious individuals generalize their pain-related avoidance behavior more to novel, safe contexts than low-anxious people. In a robotic-arm-reaching task, both groups (low vs high trait anxiety) performed 1 of 3 movements to reach a target. In the threat context (black background), a painful stimulus could be partly/completely prevented by performing more effortful trajectories (longer and more force needed); in the safe context (white background), no pain occurred. Generalization of avoidance was tested in 2 novel contexts (light/dark gray backgrounds). We assessed pain expectancy, pain-related fear, startle eyeblink responses for all trajectories, and avoidance behavior (ie, maximal deviation from shortest trajectory). Results indicated that differential fear and expectancy selectively generalized to the novel context resembling the original threat context in both groups. Interestingly and in contrast with the verbal reports, high-anxious participants avoided more in the novel context resembling the original safe context, but not in the 1 resembling the threat context. No generalization emerged in the startle data. Because excessive pain-related avoidance specifically may cause withdrawal from daily life activities, these findings suggest that high-anxious individuals may be vulnerable to developing chronic pain disability. PERSPECTIVE: This paper shows that high-anxious people do not overgeneralize pain-related fear and pain expectancy learned in a threat context more to novel, safe contexts than low-anxious individuals, but that they do avoid more in those contexts. These findings suggest that high-anxious individuals may be vulnerable to developing chronic pain disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Meulders
- Experimental Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juliane Traxler
- Experimental Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristof Vandael
- Experimental Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silke Scheepers
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leuven, Belgium
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17
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van Dis EAM, Hagenaars MA, Engelhard IM. Mental threat rehearsal increases fear generalization. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2024; 82:101917. [PMID: 37984086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Fear generalization to harmless stimuli characterizes anxiety-related disorders, but much remains unknown about its determinants. Based on studies showing that mental imagery of threat can increase conditioned fear responding, we tested whether it also facilitates fear generalization, and whether threat inflation moderates this effect. METHODS In a fear conditioning study, 120 participants first completed an acquisition phase, in which one of two pictures was followed by an aversive sound (human scream). Then, the sound was presented 11 times at an increasing (threat inflation) or constant volume (no threat inflation). Finally, a generalization stimulus was presented, and some participants were asked to imagine the last sound (threat rehearsal) and others were not (no threat rehearsal). RESULTS Bayesian informative hypotheses tests indicated that imagery-based threat rehearsal increased generalization of threat expectancy, and, combined with threat inflation, it also resulted in stronger generalized distress. LIMITATIONS due to the absence of a test phase, it is unclear whether our effects would transfer to other GSs and whether they would persist beyond the manipulation phase. CONCLUSIONS Mental imagery of threat may put individuals at risk for fear generalization. Future studies should examine whether modulating imagery may prevent clinical anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva A M van Dis
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Iris M Engelhard
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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18
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Klein Z, Shner-Livne G, Danon-Kraun S, Ginat-Frolich R, Pine DS, Shechner T. Enhanced late positive potential to conditioned threat cue during delayed extinction in anxious youth. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:215-228. [PMID: 37157184 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in threat learning relate to anxiety symptoms. Since several anxiety disorders arise in adolescence, impaired adolescent threat learning could contribute to adolescent changes in risk for anxiety. This study compared threat learning among anxious and non-anxious youth using self-reports, peripheral psychophysiology measures, and event-related potentials. Because exposure therapy, the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, is largely based on principles of extinction learning, the study also examined the link between extinction learning and treatment outcomes among anxious youth. METHODS Clinically anxious (n = 28) and non-anxious (n = 33) youth completed differential threat acquisition and immediate extinction. They returned to the lab a week later to complete a threat generalization test and a delayed extinction task. Following these two experimental visits, anxious youth received exposure therapy for 12 weeks. RESULTS Anxious as compared to non-anxious youth demonstrated elevated cognitive and physiological responses across acquisition and immediate extinction learning, as well as greater threat generalization. In addition, anxious youth showed enhanced late positive potential response to the conditioned threat cue compared to the safety cue during delayed extinction. Finally, aberrant neural response during delayed extinction was associated with poorer treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The study emphasizes differences between anxious and non-anxious youth in threat learning processes and provides preliminary support for a link between neural processing during delayed extinction and exposure-based treatment outcome in pediatric anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Klein
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gil Shner-Livne
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shani Danon-Kraun
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rivkah Ginat-Frolich
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Daniel S Pine
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tomer Shechner
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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19
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Dymond S, Cameron G, Zuj DV, Quigley M. Far from the threatening crowd: Generalisation of conditioned threat expectancy and fear in COVID-19 lockdown. Learn Behav 2024:10.3758/s13420-024-00625-4. [PMID: 38286957 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-024-00625-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Fear and anxiety are rarely confined to specific stimuli or situations. In fear generalisation, there is a spread of fear responses elicited by physically dissimilar generalisation stimuli (GS) along a continuum between danger and safety. The current study investigated fear generalisation with a novel online task using COVID-19-relevant stimuli (i.e., busy or quiet shopping street/mall scenes) during pandemic lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom. Participants (N = 50) first completed clinically relevant trait measures before commencing a habituation phase, where two conditioned stimuli (CSs; i.e., a busy or quiet high street/mall scene) were presented. Participants then underwent fear conditioning where one conditioned stimulus (CS+) was followed by an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US; a loud female scream accompanied by a facial photograph of a female displaying a fearful emotion) and another (CS-) was not. In a test phase, six generalisation stimuli were presented where the US was withheld, and participants provided threat expectancy and fear ratings for all stimuli. Following successful conditioning, fear generalization was observed for both threat expectancy and fear ratings. Trait worry partially predicted generalised threat expectancy and COVID-19 fear strongly predicted generalised fear. In conclusion, a generalisation gradient was evident using an online remote generalisation task with images of busy/quiet streets during the pandemic. Worry and fear of COVID-19 predicted fear generalisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dymond
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Menntavegur 1, Nauthólsvík, 101, Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Gemma Cameron
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Daniel V Zuj
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1342, Launceston, TAS, 7250, Australia
| | - Martyn Quigley
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
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20
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Lemmens A, Aarts E, Dibbets P. Itsy bitsy spider: Fear and avoidance (generalization) in a free-exploratory virtual reality paradigm. Behav Res Ther 2024; 172:104442. [PMID: 38086158 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Most experimental avoidance paradigms lack either control over the experimental situation or simplify real-life avoidance behavior to a great extent, making it difficult to generalize the results to the complex approach-avoidance situations that anxious individuals face in daily life. The current study aimed to examine the usability of our recently developed free-exploratory avoidance paradigm in Virtual Reality (VR) that allows for the assessment of subjective as well as behavioral avoidance in participants with varying levels of spider fear. In a VR escape room, participants searched for cues to decipher a code-locked door. Opening a wooden box marked with a post-it note (conditioned stimulus, CS) resulted in exposure to a virtual crawling spider (unconditioned stimulus, US). Avoidance of the original CS and other objects marked with the CS (generalization stimuli, GSs; EXPgen condition) or non-marked (CONT condition) objects was measured via questionnaires and relative manipulation times in a novel room. We expected a positive linear relationship between US aversiveness (levels of spider fear) and (generalization of) fear and avoidance behaviors. Avoidance learning and generalization was demonstrated on both a subjective and behavioral level. Higher levels of spider fear were, overall, related to more negative emotions in response to the encounter with the spider, higher US expectancies for the GSs, and more self-reported and behavioral avoidance of the original CS and the GSs. Finally, we explored relationships between trait anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty and fear and avoidance (generalization), but no robust associations were observed. In conclusion, we confirmed the expected positive linear relationship between spider fear and (generalization of) fear and avoidance behaviors. Our results suggest that our free-exploratory VR avoidance paradigm is well-suited to investigate avoidance behaviors and the generalization of avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Lemmens
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Open University Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Elyan Aarts
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Pauline Dibbets
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
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21
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Patterson RR, Lipp OV, Luck CC. The influence of instructions on reversing the generalization of valence, US expectancy, and electrodermal responding in fear conditioning. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14429. [PMID: 37661638 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Pairing a conditional stimulus (CS) with an aversive unconditional stimulus (US) causes negative valence and US expectancy to generalize to stimuli that are perceptually and/or conceptually similar to the CS. Past research has shown that instructing participants that the US is more likely to follow stimuli that are dissimilar to the CS reversed the generalization of US expectancy but left generalized valence unchanged. Here, we examined whether instructions about the relationship between stimuli that are perceptually similar would affect the generalization of valence. A picture of an alien (CS+) was paired with an electric stimulus, while a perceptually different alien stimulus (CS-) was presented alone. After conditioning, valence, US expectancy, and electrodermal responses generalized to different aliens that were perceptually similar (by color and shape) to the CS+ and CS-. Participants were then instructed that aliens perceptually similar to the CS+ belonged to the same group as the CS- and that aliens perceptually similar to the CS- belonged to the same group as the CS+. The instructions caused an elimination (but not a reversal) of generalized expectancy and valence but did not affect generalized electrodermal responses. This suggests that evaluations of generalization stimuli are sensitive to instructions about their relationship to the CS and that dissociations reported in the literature between valence and expectancy after instructions may occur due to the type of instruction used.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ottmar V Lipp
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Camilla C Luck
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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22
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Chang WL, Hen R. Adult Neurogenesis, Context Encoding, and Pattern Separation: A Pathway for Treating Overgeneralization. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 38:163-193. [PMID: 39008016 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62983-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
In mammals, the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus is one of two brain regions (with the subventricular zone of the olfactory bulb) that continues to generate new neurons throughout adulthood, a phenomenon known as adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) (Eriksson et al., Nat Med 4:1313-1317, 1998; García-Verdugo et al., J Neurobiol 36:234-248, 1998). The integration of these new neurons into the dentate gyrus (DG) has implications for memory encoding, with unique firing and wiring properties of immature neurons that affect how the hippocampal network encodes and stores attributes of memory. In this chapter, we will describe the process of AHN and properties of adult-born cells as they integrate into the hippocampal circuit and mature. Then, we will discuss some methodological considerations before we review evidence for the role of AHN in two major processes supporting memory that are performed by the DG. First, we will discuss encoding of contextual information for episodic memories and how this is facilitated by AHN. Second, will discuss pattern separation, a major role of the DG that reduces interference for the formation of new memories. Finally, we will review clinical and translational considerations, suggesting that stimulation of AHN may help decrease overgeneralization-a common endophenotype of mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Li Chang
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Systems Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rene Hen
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Division of Systems Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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23
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Kodzaga I, Dere E, Zlomuzica A. Generalization of beneficial exposure effects to untreated stimuli from another fear category. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:401. [PMID: 38114494 PMCID: PMC10730830 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02698-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that fear associated with one stimulus often spreads to other stimuli with similar perceptual features as well as across different stimulus categories. Exposure is considered as the most effective intervention to attenuate exaggerated fear. The extent to which exposure treatment effects can generalize to fears not targeted during treatment remains elusive. Previous studies on possible generalization of beneficial effects of exposure used stimuli sharing the same stimulus category and/or stimuli having high perceptual similarity. The current study examined whether exposure treatment generalization can be achieved for untreated stimuli which do not share any perceptual resemblance and belong to a different fear category. An analogue sample of fifty participants with fear of spiders (animal-related fears) and heights (natural environment-related fears) was tested. Participants have been randomly assigned to either an exposure treatment (n = 24) or a control condition (n = 26). Exposure treatment was designed to only target participants' fear of spiders, leaving their fear of heights untreated. Results demonstrated that the effects of exposure treatment generalized to fear of heights, as indicated by a reduction in behavioral avoidance, as well as self-reported acrophobia symptoms. The present study confutes the assumption that generalization of exposure effects to untreated fears is based on perceptual similarity. Clearly, further research is required to determine the decisive factors, in order to expand the generalization effect permanently to any given type of fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Kodzaga
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), D-44787, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ekrem Dere
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), D-44787, Bochum, Germany
- Sorbonne Université. UFR des Sciences de la Vie, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Armin Zlomuzica
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), D-44787, Bochum, Germany.
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San Martín C, Laborda MA, Miguez G, Sánchez A, Vervliet B, Quezada-Scholz V. Relation among, trait anxiety, intolerance to uncertainty and early maltreatment experiences on fear discrimination learning and avoidance generalization online task. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 81:101886. [PMID: 37343426 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Early aversive experiences, which have been associated with elevated anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty (IUS), may contribute negatively to fear conditioning learning. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relation among individual differences in childhood maltreatment experiences, trait anxiety, and IUS in adulthood; and to determine how these variables could affect fear learning discrimination and avoidance generalization. METHODS We adapted an avoidance procedure in an online fear learning task. Two pictures of different lamp colors (CS+) were first associated with two aversive images (US), while a third color was not (CS-). Next, clicking a button during one CS + could effectively avoid the US (CS + av), but not during the other (CS + unav). Finally, avoidance generalization was tested to lamp colors that were between CS- and CS + av (safety dimension) and CS + av and CS + unav (avoidability dimension). With a sample of 67 participants, we measured ratings of relief, expectancy, and anxiety, as well as button presses and individual differences (STAI, IUS and MAES). RESULTS Aversive early experiences were positively related to trait anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty. The results of the task further suggested that maltreatment experience contributes to be more attentive to aversive signals, which could be implicated in leading to difficulties in discrimination learning. LIMITATIONS Online experiments implies some loss of control over subjects and environment that can threaten internal validity. Likewise, the commitment of participants may be low. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that early aversive experience and anxiety could contribute to the development of IUS, which likely contributes to the development of avoidance behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo San Martín
- Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Universidad de los Andes, Escuela de Psicología, Chile
| | - Mario A Laborda
- Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Miguez
- Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea Sánchez
- Multimodal Functional Brain Imaging and Neurorehabilitation Hub, Diagnostic Imaging department, St. Jude Children's research Hospital, USA
| | - Bram Vervliet
- Department of Brain and Cognition, KU, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vanetza Quezada-Scholz
- Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Miyagami Y, Honshuku Y, Nomura H, Minami M, Hitora-Imamura N. Evaluation of behavioural selection processes in conflict scenarios using a newly developed mouse behavioural paradigm. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20006. [PMID: 37973835 PMCID: PMC10654709 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46743-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Selecting an appropriate behaviour is critical for survival in conflict scenarios, wherein animals face both appetitive and aversive stimuli. Behavioural selection consists of multiple processes: (1) animals remain quiet in a safe place to avoid aversive stimuli (suspension), (2) once they decide to take risks to approach appetitive stimuli, they assess the risks (risk assessment), and (3) they act to reach the reward. However, most studies have not addressed these distinct behavioural processes separately. Here, we developed a new experimental paradigm called the three-compartment conflict task to quantitatively evaluate conflict processes. Our apparatus consisted of start, flat, and grid compartments. Mice needed to explore the grid compartment, where they might receive foot shocks while trying to obtain sucrose. Applying foot shocks increased sucrose acquisition latency in subsequent trials, reflecting elevated conflict levels throughout trials. The time spent in the start compartment and the number of retreats were determined to measure the conflict levels in suspension and risk assessment, respectively. Foot shocks increased these parameters, whereas diazepam decreased them. Our new paradigm is valuable for quantitatively evaluating distinct behavioural processes and contributes to developing effective treatments for psychiatric disorders associated with maladaptive behaviours in conflict scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurika Miyagami
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yuki Honshuku
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nomura
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
- Department of Cognitive Function & Pathology, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Masabumi Minami
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Natsuko Hitora-Imamura
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan.
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26
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Vandael K, Vervliet B, Peters M, Meulders A. Excessive generalization of pain-related avoidance behavior: mechanisms, targets for intervention, and future directions. Pain 2023; 164:2405-2410. [PMID: 37498749 PMCID: PMC10578424 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristof Vandael
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Vervliet
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Madelon Peters
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ann Meulders
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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27
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Killeen PR. Theory of reinforcement schedules. J Exp Anal Behav 2023; 120:289-319. [PMID: 37706228 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The three principles of reinforcement are (1) events such as incentives and reinforcers increase the activity of an organism; (2) that activity is bounded by competition from other responses; and (3) animals approach incentives and their signs, guided by their temporal and physical conditions, together called the "contingencies of reinforcement." Mathematical models of each of these principles comprised mathematical principles of reinforcement (MPR; Killeen, 1994). Over the ensuing decades, MPR was extended to new experimental contexts. This article reviews the basic theory and its extensions to satiation, warm-up, extinction, sign tracking, pausing, and sequential control in progressive-ratio and multiple schedules. In the latter cases, a single equation balancing target and competing responses governs behavioral contrast and behavioral momentum. Momentum is intrinsic in the fundamental equations, as behavior unspools more slowly from highly aroused responses conditioned by higher rates of incitement than it does from responses from leaner contexts. Habits are responses that have accrued substantial behavioral momentum. Operant responses, being predictors of reinforcement, are approached by making them: The sight and feel of a paw on a lever is approached by placing paw on lever, as attempted for any sign of reinforcement. Behavior in concurrent schedules is governed by approach to momentarily richer patches (melioration). Applications of MPR in behavioral pharmacology and delay discounting are noted.
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28
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Lam CLM, Barry TJ, Yiend J, Lee TMC. The role of consciousness in threat extinction learning. Conscious Cogn 2023; 116:103599. [PMID: 37976781 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2023.103599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Extinction learning is regarded as a core mechanism underlying exposure therapy. The extent to which learned threats can be extinguished without conscious awareness is a controversial and on-going debate. We investigated whether implicit vs. explicit exposure to a threatened stimulus can modulate defence responses measured using pupillometry. Healthy participants underwent a threat conditioning paradigm in which one of the conditioned stimuli (CS) was perceptually suppressed using continuous flash suppression (CFS). Participants' pupillary responses, CS pleasantness ratings, and trial-by-trial awareness of the CS were recorded. During Extinction, participants' pupils dilated more in the trials in which they were unaware of the CS than in those in which they were aware of it (Cohen's d = 0.57). After reinstatement, the percentage of fear recovery was greater for the CFS-suppressed CS than the CS with full awareness. The current study suggests that the modulation of fear responses by extinction with reduced visual awareness is weaker compared to extinction with full perceptual awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlene L M Lam
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Tom J Barry
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK
| | - Jenny Yiend
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong
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29
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Mueller SA, Oler JA, Roseboom PH, Aggarwal N, Kenwood MM, Riedel MK, Elam VR, Olsen ME, DiFilippo AH, Christian BT, Hu X, Galvan A, Boehm MA, Michaelides M, Kalin NH. DREADD-mediated amygdala activation is sufficient to induce anxiety-like responses in young nonhuman primates. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:100111. [PMID: 38020807 PMCID: PMC10663133 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, with symptoms often beginning early in life. To model the pathophysiology of human pathological anxiety, we utilized Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) in a nonhuman primate model of anxious temperament to selectively increase neuronal activity of the amygdala. Subjects included 10 young rhesus macaques; 5 received bilateral infusions of AAV5-hSyn-HA-hM3Dq into the dorsal amygdala, and 5 served as controls. Subjects underwent behavioral testing in the human intruder paradigm following clozapine or vehicle administration, prior to and following surgery. Behavioral results indicated that clozapine treatment post-surgery increased freezing across different threat-related contexts in hM3Dq subjects. This effect was again observed approximately 1.9 years following surgery, indicating the long-term functional capacity of DREADD-induced neuronal activation. [11C]deschloroclozapine PET imaging demonstrated amygdala hM3Dq-HA specific binding, and immunohistochemistry revealed that hM3Dq-HA expression was most prominent in basolateral nuclei. Electron microscopy confirmed expression was predominantly on neuronal membranes. Together, these data demonstrate that activation of primate amygdala neurons is sufficient to induce increased anxiety-related behaviors, which could serve as a model to investigate pathological anxiety in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha A.L. Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Oler
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Patrick H. Roseboom
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Nakul Aggarwal
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Margaux M. Kenwood
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Marissa K. Riedel
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Victoria R. Elam
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Miles E. Olsen
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Alexandra H. DiFilippo
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Bradley T. Christian
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Xing Hu
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Matthew A. Boehm
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
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30
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Kang S, Larrabee G, Nair S, Goldfarb EV. Perceptual Generalization of Alcohol-Related Value Characterizes Risky Drinkers. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:1146-1162. [PMID: 37682597 PMCID: PMC10985388 DOI: 10.1177/09567976231181516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Generalizing from past experiences to novel situations is critical for adaptive behavior, whereas overgeneralization can promote maladaptive responses (e.g., context-inappropriate fear in anxiety). Here, we propose that overgeneralizing alcohol-related associations characterizes risky drinking. We conducted two online experiments assessing generalization of alcohol-related gains (Study 1) and losses (Study 2) among individuals who engaged in light or risky patterns of drinking (Study 1: N = 88, 24-44 years old; Study 2: N = 87, 21-44 years old). After learning to associate cards with alcohol and non-alcohol-related outcomes, participants chose whether to play with cards varying in perceptual similarity to those shown during conditioning. Finally, participants completed a surprise recognition memory test for all outcomes. Although both groups showed comparable conditioning, we found that risky drinkers overgeneralized alcohol-related gains and losses. Risky drinkers also showed a bias toward recognizing alcohol-related images. These results indicate a novel role for overgeneralization of alcohol-related gains and losses as a mechanism associated with risky drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elizabeth V. Goldfarb
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University
- Department of Psychology, Yale University
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University
- National Center for PTSD, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, Connecticut
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31
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Yamada J, Maeda S, Tojo M, Hayashida M, Iinuma KM, Jinno S. Altered regulation of oligodendrocytes associated with parvalbumin neurons in the ventral hippocampus underlies fear generalization in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1668-1679. [PMID: 37277574 PMCID: PMC10516901 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Fear generalization is a neurobiological process by which an organism interprets a novel stimulus as threatening because of its similarity to previously learned fear-inducing stimuli. Because recent studies have suggested that the communication between oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GABAergic neurons (PV neurons) may play critical roles in stress-related disorders, we examined the involvement of these cells in fear generalization. We first tested the behavioral characteristics of mouse models for conventional fear conditioning (cFC) and modified FC (mFC) with severe electric foot shocks and found that fear generalization was observed in mice treated with mFC but not in mice treated with cFC. The expression levels of genes related to OPCs, oligodendrocytes (OLs), and myelin in the ventral hippocampus were lower in mFC mice than in cFC mice. The densities of OPCs and OLs were decreased in the ventral hippocampus of mFC mice compared to cFC mice. The myelination ratios of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus were lower in mFC mice than in cFC mice. The chemogenetic activation of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus of mFC mice reduced fear generalization. The expression levels of genes related to OPCs, OLs, and myelin were recovered following the activation of PV neurons. Finally, the myelination ratios of PV neurons were increased after the activation of PV neurons. Our results suggest that altered regulation of OLs specifically associated with axons of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus may underlie the generalization of remote fear memory following severe stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yamada
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Shoichiro Maeda
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Miori Tojo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Miyuki Hayashida
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kyoko M Iinuma
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shozo Jinno
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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McGregor T, Purves KL, Barry T, Constantinou E, Craske MG, Breen G, Young KS, Eley TC. Introducing the Fear Learning and Anxiety Response (FLARe) app and web portal for the remote delivery of fear conditioning experiments. Behav Res Methods 2023; 55:3164-3178. [PMID: 36070129 PMCID: PMC10556157 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-022-01952-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Experimental paradigms measuring key psychological constructs can enhance our understanding of mechanisms underlying human psychological well-being and mental health. Delivering such paradigms remotely affords opportunities to reach larger, more representative samples than is typically possible with in-person research. The efficiency gained from remote delivery makes it easier to test replication of previously established effects in well-powered samples. There are several challenges to the successful development and delivery of remote experimental paradigms, including use of an appropriate delivery platform, identifying feasible outcome measures, and metrics of participant compliance. In this paper, we present FLARe (Fear Learning and Anxiety Response), open-source software in the form of a smartphone app and web portal for the creation and delivery of remote fear conditioning experiments. We describe the benefits and challenges associated with the creation of a remote delivery platform for fear conditioning, before presenting in detail the resultant software suite, and one instance of deploying this using the FLARe Research infrastructure. We provide examples of the application of FLARe to several research questions which illustrate the benefits of the remote approach to experiment delivery. The FLARe smartphone app and web portal are available for use by other researchers and have been designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. We hope that FLARe will be a useful tool for those interested in conducting well-powered fear conditioning studies to inform our understanding of the development and treatment of anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. McGregor
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - K. L. Purves
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - T. Barry
- Experimental Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - E. Constantinou
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - M. G. Craske
- Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - G. Breen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - K. S. Young
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - T. C. Eley
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
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Berg F, Margraf J, Wannemüller A. Calibrating your own fears: Feasibility of a remote fear conditioning paradigm with semi-subjective stimulus calibration and differences in fear learning. Learn Behav 2023; 51:246-261. [PMID: 36239878 PMCID: PMC9568901 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-022-00545-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Fear conditioning studies have occurred mostly in the laboratory, but recently researchers have started to adapt fear conditioning procedures for remote application. Standardization of aversive stimulus material not causing unnecessarily strong discomfort remains an issue especially relevant to research without experimental supervision. The present study introduces a novel semi-subjective method to calibrate aversive sounds in a remotely conducted fear conditioning paradigm. To demonstrate feasibility and proof of concept, 165 participants completed the paradigm, calibrating the loudness of an aversive sound without the guidance of an experimental instructor. This study also aimed to replicate existing findings of participant groups that differed in their early CS-UCS contingency awareness. Participants were classified as Accurate (UCS more likely after the CS+ than CS-), Poor (UCS more likely after the CS- than CS+, or UCS unlikely after either CS), and Threat Biased (UCS equally likely after the CS+ and CS-). Results indicated both the feasibility and efficacy of the paradigm, with participants showing typical patterns of fear learning. Threat Biased participants showed significantly higher uncertainty towards safety signals. There were no differences between the groups in terms of personality traits, thus questioning whether these attributes mediate differences in fear learning and the emergence of anxiety disorders. Using semi-subjective sound calibration appears to be functional, and future studies may consider implementing the new method when remotely administering fear conditioning paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Berg
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Massenbergstraße 9, 44787, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Margraf
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Massenbergstraße 9, 44787, Bochum, Germany
| | - André Wannemüller
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Massenbergstraße 9, 44787, Bochum, Germany
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Modecki KL, Ryan KM, Waters AM. Fear learning and extinction predicts anxiety in daily life: a study of Pavlovian conditioning and ecological momentary assessment. Psychol Med 2023; 53:5301-5311. [PMID: 36093766 PMCID: PMC10476067 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722002379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between anxious mood and aberrant fear learning mechanisms has not been fully elucidated. Studying how fear conditioning and extinction constructs relate to anxiety symptoms and reactivity to stressful and benign moments in everyday life provides a powerful addition to experimental paradigms. METHOD Fifty-one young adults completed laboratory-based differential conditioning and extinction tasks with (CS + ) and without (CS-) an aversive unconditional stimulus (US). Electrodermal skin conductance responses were measured during each phase, followed by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) tapping anxiety and stressors six times daily for seven days (2, 142 moments). RESULTS Conditioned electrodermal reactivity to the CS + and overgeneralisation to the CS- were associated with greater change in anxiety (measured via EMA), across non-stressful situations, remaining the same across stressful situations. Likewise, during extinction when the CS + is now safe, more electrodermal reactivity to the CS + was associated with more anxiety change across non-stressful situations and remained the same across stressful situations. Also, during extinction when threat is absent, more electrodermal reactivity at the late stage of the CS- was associated with less momentary anxiety change in response to stressful situations; more electrodermal activity at the late stage of the CS + was associated with more anxiety change across non-stressful situations and remained the same across stressful situations. CONCLUSIONS Sampling 'in vivo' emotion and stress experiences, study findings revealed links between conditioned electrodermal reactivity and overgeneralisation to safe stimuli and heightened anxious reactivity during non-stressful (i.e. safe) moments in daily life, coupled with less change in response to actual stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Modecki
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland; Centre for Mental Health, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katherine M. Ryan
- School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia
| | - Allison M. Waters
- Centre for Mental Health; School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia
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35
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Kragting M, Voogt L, Coppieters MW, Pool-Goudzwaard AL. Visual feedback manipulation in virtual reality to influence pain-free range of motion. Are people with non-specific neck pain who are fearful of movement more susceptible? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287907. [PMID: 37406021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Movement-evoked pain may have a protective or learned component, influenced by visual cues which suggest that the person is moving towards a position that may be perceived as threatening. We investigated whether visual feedback manipulation in virtual reality (VR) had a different effect on cervical pain-free range of motion (ROM) in people with fear of movement. METHOD In this cross-sectional study, seventy-five people with non-specific neck pain (i.e., neck pain without a specific underlying pathology) rotated their head until the onset of pain, while wearing a VR-headset. Visual feedback about the amount of movement was equal, 30% smaller or 30% larger than their actual rotation. ROM was measured using the VR-headset sensors. The effect of VR manipulation in fearful (N = 19 using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and N = 18 using the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-physical activity (FABQpa)) and non-fearful (N = 46; non-fearful on both scales) people was compared using mixed-design ANOVAs. RESULTS Fear of movement, influenced the effect of visual feedback manipulation on cervical pain-free ROM (TSK: p = 0.036, ղp2 = 0.060; FABQpa: p = 0.020, ղp2 = 0.077); a greater amplitude of pain-free movement was found when visual feedback reduced the perceived rotation angle compared to the control condition (TSK: p = 0.090, ղp2 = 0.104; FABQpa: p = 0.030, ղp2 = 0.073). Independent of the presence of fear, visual feedback manipulation reduced the cervical pain-free ROM in the overstated condition (TSK: p< 0.001, ղp2 = 0.195; FABQpa: p<0.001, ղp2 = 0.329). DISCUSSION Cervical pain-free ROM can be influenced by visual perception of the amount of rotation and people with fear of movement seem to be more susceptible to this effect. Further research in people with moderate/severe fear is needed to determine whether manipulating visual feedback may have clinical applicability to make patients aware that ROM may be influenced more by fear than tissue pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Kragting
- Department of Physical Therapy, Research Centre for Health Care Innovations, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Program Musculoskeletal Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lennard Voogt
- Department of Physical Therapy, Research Centre for Health Care Innovations, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Pain in Motion Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michel W Coppieters
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Program Musculoskeletal Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Menzies Health Insitute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Program Musculoskeletal Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Somt University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
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Dewitte M, Meulders A. Fear Learning in Genital Pain: Toward a Biopsychosocial, Ecologically Valid Research and Treatment Model. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2023; 60:768-785. [PMID: 36648251 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2164242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although fear learning mechanisms are implicated in the development, maintenance, exacerbation, and reduction of genital pain, systematic research on how fear of genital pain emerges, spreads, persists, and reemerges after treatment is lacking. This paper provides an overview of the literature on pain-related fear, integrates the ideas on learning and sexual arousal responding, and specifies the pathways through which compromised learning may contribute to the development and persistence of genital pain. In order to refine theories of genital pain and optimize treatments, we need to adopt a biopsychosocial framework to pain-related fear learning and uncover potential moderators that shape individual trajectories. This involves examining the role of physiological processes, subjective experiences, as well as partner and relational cues in fear acquisition, excessive generalization and impaired safety learning, extinction of fear, counterconditioning, and return of fear. Recent methodological advances in fear conditioning and sex research are promising to enable more symptom-specific and ecologically valid experimental paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Dewitte
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University
| | - Ann Meulders
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University
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Mueller SAL, Oler JA, Roseboom PH, Aggarwal N, Kenwood MM, Riedel MK, Elam VR, Olsen ME, DiFilippo AH, Christian BT, Hu X, Galvan A, Boehm MA, Michaelides M, Kalin NH. DREADD-mediated amygdala activation is sufficient to induce anxiety-like responses in young nonhuman primates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.06.543911. [PMID: 37333300 PMCID: PMC10274719 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.06.543911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, with symptoms often beginning early in life. To model the pathophysiology of human pathological anxiety, we utilized Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) in a nonhuman primate model of anxious temperament to selectively increase neuronal activity of the amygdala. Subjects included 10 young rhesus macaques; 5 received bilateral infusions of AAV5-hSyn-HA-hM3Dq into the dorsal amygdala, and 5 served as controls. Subjects underwent behavioral testing in the human intruder paradigm following clozapine or vehicle administration, prior to and following surgery. Behavioral results indicated that clozapine treatment post-surgery increased freezing across different threat-related contexts in hM3Dq subjects. This effect was again observed approximately 1.9 years following surgery, indicating the long-term functional capacity of DREADD-induced neuronal activation. [11C]deschloroclozapine PET imaging demonstrated amygdala hM3Dq-HA specific binding, and immunohistochemistry revealed that hM3Dq-HA expression was most prominent in basolateral nuclei. Electron microscopy confirmed expression was predominantly on neuronal membranes. Together, these data demonstrate that activation of primate amygdala neurons is sufficient to induce increased anxiety-related behaviors, which could serve as a model to investigate pathological anxiety in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha A L Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Jonathan A Oler
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Patrick H Roseboom
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Nakul Aggarwal
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Margaux M Kenwood
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marissa K Riedel
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Victoria R Elam
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Miles E Olsen
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Alexandra H DiFilippo
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Bradley T Christian
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Xing Hu
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Matthew A Boehm
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry and the HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
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Glogan E, Gatzounis R, Bennett MP, Holthausen K, Meulders A. Generalization of pain-related avoidance behavior based on de novo categorical knowledge. Pain 2023; 164:895-904. [PMID: 36149790 PMCID: PMC10026827 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT People with chronic pain often fear and avoid movements and activities that were never paired with pain. Safe movements may be avoided if they share some semantic relationship with an actual pain-associated movement. This study investigated whether pain-associated operant responses (movements) can become categorically associated with perceptually dissimilar responses, thus motivating avoidance of new classes of safe movements-a phenomenon known as category-based avoidance generalization. Using a robotic arm, 2 groups were trained to categorize arm movements in different ways. Subsequently, the groups learned through operant conditioning that an arm movement from one of the categories was paired with a high probability of pain, whereas the others were paired with either a medium probability of pain or no pain (acquisition phase). Self-reported pain-related fear and pain expectancy were collected as indices of fear learning. During a final generalization test phase, the movements categorically related to those from the acquisition phase were made available but in the absence of pain. Results showed that the generalization of outcome measures depended on the categorical connections between arm movements, ie, the groups avoided and feared the novel generalization movement categorically related to the pain-associated acquisition movement, depending on how they had previously learned to categorize the movements. This suggests that operant pain-related avoidance can generalize to safe behaviors, which are not perceptually, but categorically, similar to a pain-associated behavior. This form of pain-related avoidance generalization is problematic because category-based relations can be extremely wide reaching and idiosyncratic. Thus, category-based generalization of operant pain-related avoidance merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Glogan
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rena Gatzounis
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marc Patrick Bennett
- Medical Research Council—Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Katharina Holthausen
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ann Meulders
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Venkataraman A, Dias BG. Expanding the canon: An inclusive neurobiology of thalamic and subthalamic fear circuits. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109380. [PMID: 36572176 PMCID: PMC9984284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Appropriate expression of fear in the face of threats in the environment is essential for survival. The sustained expression of fear in the absence of threat signals is a central pathological feature of trauma- and anxiety-related disorders. Our understanding of the neural circuitry that controls fear inhibition coalesces around the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. By discussing thalamic and sub-thalamic influences on fear-related learning and expression in this review, we suggest a more inclusive neurobiological framework that expands our canonical view of fear. First, we visit how fear-related learning and expression is influenced by the aforementioned canonical brain regions. Next, we review emerging data that shed light on new roles for thalamic and subthalamic nuclei in fear-related learning and expression. Then, we highlight how these neuroanatomical hubs can modulate fear via integration of sensory and salient stimuli, gating information flow and calibrating behavioral responses, as well as maintaining and updating memory representations. Finally, we propose that the presence of this thalamic and sub-thalamic neuroanatomy in parallel with the tripartite prefrontal cortex-amygdala-hippocampus circuit allows for dynamic modulation of information based on interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Venkataraman
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Brian George Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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40
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Dou H, Lei Y, Pan Y, Li H, Astikainen P. Impact of observational and direct learning on fear conditioning generalization in humans. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 121:110650. [PMID: 36181957 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Humans gain knowledge about threats not only from their own experiences but also from observing others' behavior. A neutral stimulus is associated with a threat stimulus for several times and the neutral stimulus will evoke fear responses, which is known as fear conditioning. When encountering a new event that is similar to one previously associated with a threat, one may feel afraid and produce fear responses. This is called fear generalization. Previous studies have mostly focused on fear conditioning and generalization based on direct learning, but few have explored how observational fear learning affects fear conditioning and generalization. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has focused on the neural correlations of fear conditioning and generalization based on observational learning. In the present study, 58 participants performed a differential conditioning paradigm in which they learned the associations between neutral cues (i.e., geometric figures) and threat stimuli (i.e., electric shock). The learning occurred on their own (i.e., direct learning) and by observing other participant's responses (i.e., observational learning); the study used a within-subjects design. After each learning condition, a fear generalization paradigm was conducted by each participant independently while their behavioral responses (i.e., expectation of a shock) and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings or responses were recorded. The shock expectancy ratings showed that observational learning, compared to direct learning, reduced the differentiation between the conditioned threatening stimuli and safety stimuli and the increased shock expectancy to the generalization stimuli. The EEG indicated that in fear learning, threatening conditioned stimuli in observational and direct learning increased early discrimination (P1) and late motivated attention (late positive potential [LPP]), compared with safety conditioned stimuli. In fear generalization, early discrimination, late motivated attention, and orienting attention (alpha-event-related desynchronization [alpha-ERD]) to generalization stimuli were reduced in the observational learning condition. These findings suggest that compared to direct learning, observational learning reduces differential fear learning and increases the generalization of fear, and this might be associated with reduced discrimination and attentional function related to generalization stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Dou
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China; Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Yi Lei
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yafeng Pan
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Li
- Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China; School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Piia Astikainen
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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41
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Kimbler A, McMakin DL, Tustison NJ, Mattfeld AT. Differential effects of emotional valence on mnemonic performance with greater hippocampal maturity. Learn Mem 2023; 30:55-62. [PMID: 36921982 PMCID: PMC10027236 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053628.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The hippocampal formation (HF) facilitates declarative memory, with subfields providing unique contributions to memory performance. Maturational differences across subfields facilitate a shift toward increased memory specificity, with peripuberty sitting at the inflection point. Peripuberty is also a sensitive period in the development of anxiety disorders. We believe HF development during puberty is critical to negative overgeneralization, a common feature of anxiety disorders. To investigate this claim, we examined the relationship between mnemonic generalization and a cross-sectional pubertal maturity index (PMI) derived from partial least squares correlation (PLSC) analyses of subfield volumes and structural connectivity from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted scans, respectively. Participants aged 9-14 yr, from clinical and community sources, performed a recognition task with emotionally valent (positive, negative, and neutral) images. HF volumetric PMI was positively associated with generalization for negative images. Hippocampal-medial prefrontal cortex connectivity PMI evidenced a behavioral relationship similar to that of the HF volumetric approach. These findings reflect a novel developmentally related balance between generalization behavior supported by the hippocampus and its connections with other regions, with maturational differences in this balance potentially contributing to negative overgeneralization during peripuberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Kimbler
- Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
| | - Dana L McMakin
- Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
- Clinical Science Program, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
- Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
| | - Nicholas J Tustison
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA
| | - Aaron T Mattfeld
- Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
- Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
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42
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Song I, Kuznetsova T, Baidoe-Ansah D, Mirzapourdelavar H, Senkov O, Hayani H, Mironov A, Kaushik R, Druzin M, Johansson S, Dityatev A. Heparan Sulfates Regulate Axonal Excitability and Context Generalization through Ca 2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050744. [PMID: 36899880 PMCID: PMC10000602 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies demonstrated that enzymatic removal of highly sulfated heparan sulfates with heparinase 1 impaired axonal excitability and reduced expression of ankyrin G at the axon initial segments in the CA1 region of the hippocampus ex vivo, impaired context discrimination in vivo, and increased Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity in vitro. Here, we show that in vivo delivery of heparinase 1 in the CA1 region of the hippocampus elevated autophosphorylation of CaMKII 24 h after injection in mice. Patch clamp recording in CA1 neurons revealed no significant heparinase effects on the amplitude or frequency of miniature excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents, while the threshold for action potential generation was increased and fewer spikes were generated in response to current injection. Delivery of heparinase on the next day after contextual fear conditioning induced context overgeneralization 24 h after injection. Co-administration of heparinase with the CaMKII inhibitor (autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide) rescued neuronal excitability and expression of ankyrin G at the axon initial segment. It also restored context discrimination, suggesting the key role of CaMKII in neuronal signaling downstream of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and highlighting a link between impaired CA1 pyramidal cell excitability and context generalization during recall of contextual memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inseon Song
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tatiana Kuznetsova
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - David Baidoe-Ansah
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hadi Mirzapourdelavar
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Oleg Senkov
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hussam Hayani
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andrey Mironov
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rahul Kaushik
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Druzin
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Staffan Johansson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alexander Dityatev
- Molecular Neuroplasticity Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Güricke-Universität Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-391-67-24526; Fax: +49-391-6724530
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Beckers T, Hermans D, Lange I, Luyten L, Scheveneels S, Vervliet B. Understanding clinical fear and anxiety through the lens of human fear conditioning. NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 2:233-245. [PMID: 36811021 PMCID: PMC9933844 DOI: 10.1038/s44159-023-00156-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an adaptive emotion that mobilizes defensive resources upon confrontation with danger. However, fear becomes maladaptive and can give rise to the development of clinical anxiety when it exceeds the degree of threat, generalizes broadly across stimuli and contexts, persists after the danger is gone or promotes excessive avoidance behaviour. Pavlovian fear conditioning has been the prime research instrument that has led to substantial progress in understanding the multi-faceted psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of fear in past decades. In this Perspective, we suggest that fruitful use of Pavlovian fear conditioning as a laboratory model of clinical anxiety requires moving beyond the study of fear acquisition to associated fear conditioning phenomena: fear extinction, generalization of conditioned fear and fearful avoidance. Understanding individual differences in each of these phenomena, not only in isolation but also in how they interact, will further strengthen the external validity of the fear conditioning model as a tool with which to study maladaptive fear as it manifests in clinical anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Beckers
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Hermans
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iris Lange
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Luyten
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Scheveneels
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Vervliet
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Breathwork Interventions for Adults with Clinically Diagnosed Anxiety Disorders: A Scoping Review. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020256. [PMID: 36831799 PMCID: PMC9954474 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders, but they are often underrecognized and undertreated in primary care. Dysfunctional breathing is a hallmark of anxiety disorders; however, mainstays of treatments do not tackle breathing in patients suffering anxiety. This scoping review aims to identify the nature and extent of the available research literature on the efficacy of breathwork interventions for adults with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders using the DSM-5 classification system. Using the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, a search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted using terms related to anxiety disorders and breathwork interventions. Only clinical studies using breathwork (without the combination of other interventions) and performed on adult patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder using the DSM-5 classification system were included. From 1081 articles identified across three databases, sixteen were included for the review. A range of breathwork interventions yielded significant improvements in anxiety symptoms in patients clinically diagnosed with anxiety disorders. The results around the role of hyperventilation in treatment of anxiety were contradictory in few of the examined studies. This evidence-based review supports the clinical utility of breathwork interventions and discusses effective treatment options and protocols that are feasible and accessible to patients suffering anxiety. Current gaps in knowledge for future research directions have also been identified.
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Harvey AR. Injury, illness, and emotion: A review of the motivational continuum from trauma through recovery from an ecological perspective. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 27:100586. [PMID: 36655055 PMCID: PMC9841046 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Image 1.
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46
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Andreatta M, Winkler MH, Collins P, Gromer D, Gall D, Pauli P, Gamer M. VR for Studying the Neuroscience of Emotional Responses. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 65:161-187. [PMID: 36592276 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Emotions are frequently considered as the driving force of behavior, and psychopathology is often characterized by aberrant emotional responding. Emotional states are reflected on a cognitive-verbal, physiological-humoral, and motor-behavioral level but to date, human research lacks an experimental protocol for a comprehensive and ecologically valid characterization of such emotional states. Virtual reality (VR) might help to overcome this situation by allowing researchers to study mental processes and behavior in highly controlled but reality-like laboratory settings. In this chapter, we first elucidate the role of presence and immersion as requirements for eliciting emotional states in a virtual environment and discuss different VR methods for emotion induction. We then consider the organization of emotional states on a valence continuum (i.e., from negative to positive) and on this basis discuss the use of VR to study threat processing and avoidance as well as reward processing and approach behavior. Although the potential of VR has not been fully realized in laboratory and clinical settings yet, this technological tool can open up new avenues to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms of emotional responding in healthy and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Markus H Winkler
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Gromer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Gall
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Gamer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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47
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Fear conditioning and extinction learning in the mood and anxiety disorders spectrum - Associations with the outcome of cognitive behavior therapy. Behav Res Ther 2023; 160:104229. [PMID: 36463833 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the current study, we test for the specificity of deficits in fear acquisition and extinction for the anxiety disorders spectrum. We compared fear acquisition and fear extinction learning between a group of patients with either an anxiety disorder (n = 93) or depression (n = 103) attending for treatment in our outpatient center and a sample of healthy control participants (n = 60). To assess the specificity of the predictive validity of extinction learning and safety learning for the outcome of exposure-based treatments, patients additionally underwent disorder-specific cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). We found only very little evidence for differences in safety or extinction learning between healthy controls and patients with anxiety-disorders or depression using both a group-based categorical analytic approach, as well as a trans-diagnostic, dimensional analytic approach. On the contrary, for anxiety patients only, more favorable extinction learning and more favorable safety learning was associated with more favorable treatment outcome. In sum, this specific prediction of treatment outcome in anxiety patients confirms and extends current theoretical models of exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders, but does not support the notion of general extinction learning deficits in the anxiety disorders spectrum.
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48
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Cain CK. Beyond Fear, Extinction, and Freezing: Strategies for Improving the Translational Value of Animal Conditioning Research. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:19-57. [PMID: 37532965 PMCID: PMC10840073 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience for anxiety has had limited success despite great progress in understanding the neurobiology of Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction. This chapter explores the idea that conditioning paradigms have had a modest impact on translation because studies in animals and humans are misaligned in important ways. For instance, animal conditioning studies typically use imminent threats to assess short-duration fear states with single behavioral measures (e.g., freezing), whereas human studies typically assess weaker or more prolonged anxiety states with physiological (e.g., skin conductance) and self-report measures. A path forward may be more animal research on conditioned anxiety phenomena measuring dynamic behavioral and physiological responses in more complex environments. Exploring transitions between defensive brain states during extinction, looming threats, and post-threat recovery may be particularly informative. If care is taken to align paradigms, threat levels, and measures, this strategy may reveal stable patterns of non-conscious defense in animals and humans that correlate better with conscious anxiety. This shift in focus is also warranted because anxiety is a bigger problem than fear, even in disorders defined by dysfunctional fear or panic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K Cain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
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49
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Cooper SE, Dunsmoor JE, Koval KA, Pino ER, Steinman SA. Test–retest
reliability of human threat conditioning and generalization across a
1‐to‐2‐week
interval. Psychophysiology 2022; 60:e14242. [PMID: 36546410 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Given the increasing use of threat conditioning and generalization for clinical-translational research efforts, establishing test-retest reliability of these paradigms is necessary. Specifically, it is an empirical question whether the same participant evinces a similar generalization gradient of conditioned responses across two sessions with the identical contingencies and stimuli. Here, 46 human volunteers participated in an identical auditory threat acquisition and generalization protocol at two sessions separated by 1-to-2 weeks. Skin conductance responses (SCR) and trial-by-trial shock risk ratings served as primary measures. We used linear mixed effects modeling to test differential threat responses and generalization gradients, and Generalizability (G) theory coefficients as our primary formal assessment of test-retest reliability of intraindividual stability and change across time. Results showed largely invariant differential conditioning and generalization gradients across time. G coefficients indicated fair reliability for acquisition and generalization SCR. In contrast, risk rating reliabilities were mixed, and reliability was particularly low for acquisition risk ratings. Our findings generally support reliability of the threat conditioning and generalization paradigm for shorter test-retest intervals and highlight their utility for assessments of behavioral interventions in mental health research, but challenges remain and further work is needed. Threat conditioning and generalization tasks are increasingly used for translational efforts to improve behavioral interventions, and thus test-retest reliability for these tasks needs to be established. Our results support the test-retest reliability of threat conditioning and generalization over a relatively short (1-to-2 week) interval, but this depends on the measure used (physiological vs. self-report). Overall, these tasks could be appropriate for repeated testing over the course of a short-duration intervention study, but more research is needed, particularly in regard to longer-duration studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Cooper
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Joseph E. Dunsmoor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
- Institute for Neuroscience University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Kathleen A. Koval
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Emma R. Pino
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Shari A. Steinman
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
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50
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Christian C, Levinson CA. An integrated review of fear and avoidance learning in anxiety disorders and application to eating disorders. NEW IDEAS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2022.100964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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