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Tortora F, Hadipour AL, Battaglia S, Falzone A, Avenanti A, Vicario CM. The Role of Serotonin in Fear Learning and Memory: A Systematic Review of Human Studies. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1197. [PMID: 37626553 PMCID: PMC10452575 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13081197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear is characterized by distinct behavioral and physiological responses that are essential for the survival of the human species. Fear conditioning (FC) serves as a valuable model for studying the acquisition, extinction, and expression of fear. The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system is known to play a significant role in emotional and motivational aspects of human behavior, including fear learning and expression. Accumulating evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that brain regions involved in FC, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, possess a high density of 5-HT receptors, implicating the crucial involvement of serotonin in aversive learning. Additionally, studies exploring serotonin gene polymorphisms have indicated their potential influence on FC. Therefore, the objective of this work was to review the existing evidence linking 5-HT with fear learning and memory in humans. Through a comprehensive screening of the PubMed and Web of Science databases, 29 relevant studies were included in the final review. These studies investigated the relationship between serotonin and fear learning using drug manipulations or by studying 5-HT-related gene polymorphisms. The results suggest that elevated levels of 5-HT enhance aversive learning, indicating that the modulation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors regulates the expression of fear responses in humans. Understanding the role of this neurochemical messenger in associative aversive learning can provide insights into psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tortora
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università Degli Studi di Messina, Via Concezione 6, 98121 Messina, Italy; (F.T.); (A.F.)
| | - Abed L. Hadipour
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università Degli Studi di Messina, Via Concezione 6, 98121 Messina, Italy; (F.T.); (A.F.)
| | - Simone Battaglia
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia “Renzo Canestrari”, Campus di Cesena, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Rasi e Spinelli 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Falzone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università Degli Studi di Messina, Via Concezione 6, 98121 Messina, Italy; (F.T.); (A.F.)
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia “Renzo Canestrari”, Campus di Cesena, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Rasi e Spinelli 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy;
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica Del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Carmelo M. Vicario
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università Degli Studi di Messina, Via Concezione 6, 98121 Messina, Italy; (F.T.); (A.F.)
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Tomasi J, Zai CC, Zai G, Kennedy JL, Tiwari AK. Genetics of human startle reactivity: A systematic review to acquire targets for an anxiety endophenotype. World J Biol Psychiatry 2021; 22:399-427. [PMID: 33040669 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1834619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Startle response is an objective physiological measure integral to the human defense system and a promising target for endophenotype investigations of anxiety. Given the alterations in startle reactivity observed among anxiety and related disorders, we searched for genetic variants associated with startle reactivity as they may be further involved in pathological anxiety risk. METHODS A systematic literature review was performed to identify genetic variants associated with startle reactivity in humans, specifically baseline and fear- or anxiety-potentiated startle. RESULTS The polymorphisms Val66Met (rs6265) from brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Val158Met (rs4680) from catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) from the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) were most commonly studied in human startle. In addition, several other genetic variants have also been identified as potential candidates that warrant further research, especially given their novelty in in the context of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Similar to psychiatric genetic studies, the studies on startle reactivity primarily focus on candidate genes and are plagued by non-replication. Startle reactivity is a promising endophenotype that requires concerted efforts to collect uniformly assessed, large, well-powered samples and hypothesis-free genome-wide strategies. To further support startle as an endophenotype for anxiety, this review suggests advanced genetic strategies for startle research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Tomasi
- Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gwyneth Zai
- Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division, CAMH, Toronto, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Arun K Tiwari
- Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Schiele MA, Reif A, Lin J, Alpers GW, Andersson E, Andersson G, Arolt V, Bergström J, Carlbring P, Eley TC, Esquivel G, Furmark T, Gerlach AL, Hamm A, Helbig-Lang S, Hudson JL, Lang T, Lester KJ, Lindefors N, Lonsdorf TB, Pauli P, Richter J, Rief W, Roberts S, Rück C, Schruers KRJ, Thiel C, Wittchen HU, Domschke K, Weber H, Lueken U. Therapygenetic effects of 5-HTTLPR on cognitive-behavioral therapy in anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 44:105-120. [PMID: 33483252 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
There is a recurring debate on the role of the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in the moderation of response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in anxiety disorders. Results, however, are still inconclusive. We here aim to perform a meta-analysis on the role of 5-HTTLPR in the moderation of CBT outcome in anxiety disorders. We investigated both categorical (symptom reduction of at least 50%) and dimensional outcomes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up. Original data were obtained from ten independent samples (including three unpublished samples) with a total of 2,195 patients with primary anxiety disorder. No significant effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype on categorical or dimensional outcomes at post and follow-up were detected. We conclude that current evidence does not support the hypothesis of 5-HTTLPR as a moderator of treatment outcome for CBT in anxiety disorders. Future research should address whether other factors such as long-term changes or epigenetic processes may explain further variance in these complex gene-environment interactions and molecular-genetic pathways that may confer behavioral change following psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jiaxi Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg W Alpers
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Evelyn Andersson
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Division of Psychology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Volker Arolt
- Institute of Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jan Bergström
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Carlbring
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thalia C Eley
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Esquivel
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands and Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Tomas Furmark
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexander L Gerlach
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alfons Hamm
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sylvia Helbig-Lang
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer L Hudson
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Thomas Lang
- Christoph-Dornier-Foundation for Clinical Psychology, Bremen, Germany; Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
| | - Kathryn J Lester
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Nils Lindefors
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy), and Center of Mental Health, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Richter
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Winfried Rief
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Susanna Roberts
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Rück
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Koen R J Schruers
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands and Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiane Thiel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike Weber
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Lueken
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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No consistent startle modulation by reward. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4399. [PMID: 33623052 PMCID: PMC7902634 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have not clearly demonstrated whether motivational tendencies during reward feedback are mainly characterized by appetitive responses to a gain or mainly by aversive consequences of reward omission. In the current study this issue was addressed employing a passive head or tails game and using the startle reflex as an index of the appetitive-aversive continuum. A second aim of the current study was to use startle-reflex modulation as a means to compare the subjective value of monetary rewards of varying magnitude. Startle responses after receiving feedback that a potential reward was won or not won were compared with a baseline condition without a potential gain. Furthermore, startle responses during anticipation of no versus potential gain were compared. Consistent with previous studies, startle-reflex magnitudes were significantly potentiated when participants anticipated a reward compared to no reward, which may reflect anticipatory arousal. Specifically for the largest reward (20-cents) startle magnitudes were potentiated when a reward was at stake but not won, compared to a neutral baseline without potential gain. In contrast, startle was not inhibited relative to baseline when a reward was won. This suggests that startle modulation during feedback is better characterized in terms of potentiation when missing out on reward rather than in terms of inhibition as a result of winning. However, neither of these effects were replicated in a more targeted second experiment. The discrepancy between these experiments may be due to differences in motivation to obtain rewards or differences in task engagement. From these experiments it may be concluded that the nature of the processing of reward feedback and reward cues is very sensitive to experimental parameters and settings. These studies show how apparently modest changes in these parameters and settings may lead to quite different modulations of appetitive/aversive motivation. A future experiment may shed more light on the question whether startle-reflex modulation after feedback is indeed mainly characterized by the aversive consequences of reward omission for relatively large rewards.
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Hulsman AM, Kaldewaij R, Hashemi MM, Zhang W, Koch SBJ, Figner B, Roelofs K, Klumpers F. Individual differences in costly fearful avoidance and the relation to psychophysiology. Behav Res Ther 2020; 137:103788. [PMID: 33422745 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Excessive avoidance behaviour is a cardinal symptom of anxiety disorders. Avoidance is not only associated with the benefits of avoiding threats, but also with the costs of missing out on rewards upon exploration. Psychological and psychophysiological mechanisms contributing to these costly avoidance decisions in prospect of mixed outcomes remain unclear. We developed a novel Fearful Avoidance Task (FAT) that resembles characteristics of real-life approach-avoidance conflicts, enabling to disentangle reward and threat effects. Using the FAT, we investigated individual differences in avoidance behaviour and anticipatory psychophysiological states (i.e. startle reflex and skin conductance) in a relatively large sample of 343 (78 females) participants. Avoidance under acute threat of shock depends on a trade-off between perceived reward and threat. Both increased startle and skin conductance in the absence of threat of shock emerged as predictors of increased avoidance (potentially indicative of fear generalization). Increased avoidance was also associated with female sex and trait anxiety, dependent on reward and threat levels. Our findings highlight distinct possible predictors of heightened avoidance and add to mechanistic understanding of how individual propensity for costly avoidance may emerge. Distinct avoidance typologies based on differential reward and threat sensitivities may have different mechanistic origins and thereby could benefit from different treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneloes M Hulsman
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Reinoud Kaldewaij
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mahur M Hashemi
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wei Zhang
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernd Figner
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Floris Klumpers
- Affective Neuroscience, Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Raber J, Arzy S, Bertolus JB, Depue B, Haas HE, Hofmann SG, Kangas M, Kensinger E, Lowry CA, Marusak HA, Minnier J, Mouly AM, Mühlberger A, Norrholm SD, Peltonen K, Pinna G, Rabinak C, Shiban Y, Soreq H, van der Kooij MA, Lowe L, Weingast LT, Yamashita P, Boutros SW. Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:136-177. [PMID: 30970272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that serves as a driving factor in how organisms move through the world. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the subjective experience of fear and the related biological processes involved in fear learning and memory. We first provide an overview of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models, encompassing the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, the influence of genetic and environmental factors, and how fear learning paradigms have contributed to treatments for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Current treatments as well as novel strategies, such as targeting the perisynaptic environment and use of virtual reality, are addressed. We review research on the subjective experience of fear and the role of autobiographical memory in fear-related disorders. We also discuss the gaps in our understanding of fear learning and memory, and the degree of consensus in the field. Lastly, the development of linguistic tools for assessments and treatment of fear learning and memory disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Shahar Arzy
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Brendan Depue
- Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Haley E Haas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Kangas
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Minnier
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS-UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seth Davin Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christine Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hermona Soreq
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science and The Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael A van der Kooij
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitatsmedizin der Johannes Guttenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paula Yamashita
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sydney Weber Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Assessment of fear and anxiety associated behaviors, physiology and neural circuits in rats with reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) levels. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:33. [PMID: 30670681 PMCID: PMC6343029 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in serotonin transporter (SERT) that reduces transcriptional efficiency is associated with higher anxiety and fear traits and a greater incidence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although previous studies have shown that rats with no expression of SERT (SERT-/-) have increased baseline anxiety behaviors, SERT+/- rats with low SERT expression (and more relevant to the clinical condition with low SERT expression) do not. Yet, no systematic studies of fear acquisition/extinction or their underlying neural mechanisms have been conducted in this preclinical genetic SERT+/- model. Here we sought to determine if SERT+/- or SERT-/-, compared to wildtype, rats would show exacerbated panic responses and/or persistent conditioned fear responses that may be associated with PTSD or phobia vulnerability. Results: Only SERT-/- rats showed increased baseline anxiety-like behaviors with heightened panic respiratory responses. However SERT+/- (also SERT-/-) rats showed enhanced acquisition of fear and delayed extinction of fear that was associated with changes in serotonergic-related genes (e.g., reduced 5-HT1A receptor) and disrupted inhibition within the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Furthermore, the disrupted fear responses in SERT+/- rats were normalized with 5HT1A antagonist infusions into the BLA. Enhanced acquisition and failure to extinguish fear memories displayed by both SERT-/- and SERT+/- rats are cardinal symptoms of disabling anxiety disorders such as phobias and PTSD. The data here support the hypothesis that reduced SERT function is a genetic risk that disrupts select gene expression and network properties in the amygdala that could result in vulnerability to these syndromes.
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Ouyang X, Zhang G, Pan H, Huang J. Susceptibility and severity of cancer-related fatigue in colorectal cancer patients is associated with SLC6A4 gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs25531 A>G genotype. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2018; 33:97-101. [PMID: 29551185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the correlation between the SERT gene promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs25531 and rs956304 and the cancer-related fatigue (CRF) of colon and rectal cancer, and also to analyze the correlation of the interaction of genetic and non-genetic factors. METHOD A sample of 568 colon and rectal cancer patients were recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from October 2013 to December 2015. The Chinese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C) was used to evaluate the CRF. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the patients. Direct sequencing was used to determine the rs25531 and rs956304 genotypes. RESULTS Compared with the AA genotype, the risk of suffering from CRF and the severity of CRF increased to 1.77 times (95% CI = 1.22-2.59, P = 0.003) for patients who carry with G allele (AG+GG genotype) at rs25531 locus. CONCLUSIONS The SERT gene promoter SNP rs25531 was associated with the CRF in patients with colon and rectal cancer and the G genotype was an independent risk factor for CRF among individuals with colon and rectal cancer in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Ouyang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Guanping Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Hua Pan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
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How Human Amygdala and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis May Drive Distinct Defensive Responses. J Neurosci 2017; 37:9645-9656. [PMID: 28893930 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3830-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to adaptively regulate responses to the proximity of potential danger is critical to survival and imbalance in this system may contribute to psychopathology. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is implicated in defensive responding during uncertain threat anticipation whereas the amygdala may drive responding upon more acute danger. This functional dissociation between the BNST and amygdala is however controversial, and human evidence scarce. Here we used data from two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies [n = 108 males and n = 70 (45 females)] to probe how coordination between the BNST and amygdala may regulate responses during shock anticipation and actual shock confrontation. In a subset of participants from Sample 2 (n = 48) we demonstrate that anticipation and confrontation evoke bradycardic and tachycardic responses, respectively. Further, we show that in each sample when going from shock anticipation to the moment of shock confrontation neural activity shifted from a region anatomically consistent with the BNST toward the amygdala. Comparisons of functional connectivity during threat processing showed overlapping yet also consistently divergent functional connectivity profiles for the BNST and amygdala. Finally, childhood maltreatment levels predicted amygdala, but not BNST, hyperactivity during shock anticipation. Our results support an evolutionary conserved, defensive distance-dependent dynamic balance between BNST and amygdala activity. Shifts in this balance may enable shifts in defensive reactions via the demonstrated differential functional connectivity. Our results indicate that early life stress may tip the neural balance toward acute threat responding and via that route predispose for affective disorder.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Previously proposed differential contributions of the BNST and amygdala to fear and anxiety have been recently debated. Despite the significance of understanding their contributions to defensive reactions, there is a paucity of human studies that directly compared these regions on activity and connectivity during threat processing. We show strong evidence for a dissociable role of the BNST and amygdala in threat processing by demonstrating in two large participant samples that they show a distinct temporal signature of threat responding as well as a discriminable pattern of functional connections and differential sensitivity to early life threat.
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10
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More than just noise: Inter-individual differences in fear acquisition, extinction and return of fear in humans - Biological, experiential, temperamental factors, and methodological pitfalls. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 80:703-728. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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11
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Talati A, Odgerel Z, Wickramaratne PJ, Norcini-Pala A, Skipper JL, Gingrich JA, Weissman MM. Associations between serotonin transporter and behavioral traits and diagnoses related to anxiety. Psychiatry Res 2017; 253:211-219. [PMID: 28391138 PMCID: PMC5472225 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The role of the serotonin transporter promoter-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in psychiatric disease remains unclear. Behavioral traits could serve as alternative outcomes that are stable, precede psychopathology, and capture more sub-clinical variation. We test associations between 5-HTTLPR and (1) behavioral traits and (2) clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Second and third generation participants (N=203, 34.2±13.8 years, 54% female) at high- or low- familial risk for depression (where risk was defined by the presence of major depression in the 1st generation) were assessed longitudinally using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-lifetime interview, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. High (but not low)-risk offspring with two risk (short, s) alleles had higher impulsivity (+13%), hostility (+31%) and neuroticism (+23%). SS was associated higher rates of panic (OR=7.05 [2.44, 20.38], p=0.0003) and phobic (OR=2.68[1.04, 6.93], p=0.04), but not other disorders. Impulsivity accounted for 16% of associations between 5-HTTLPR and panic, and 52% of association between 5-HTTLPR and phobias. We show that 5-HTTLPR predicts higher impulsivity, hostility, and neuroticism, and that impulsivity could serve as a useful independent outcome or intermediary phenotype in genetic studies of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardesheer Talati
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Zagaa Odgerel
- Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Priya J. Wickramaratne
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY,Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Andrea Norcini-Pala
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jamie L. Skipper
- Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | - Jay A. Gingrich
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY,Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Myrna M. Weissman
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY,Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY,Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, NY
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12
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Abstract
When individuals are exposed to stressful environmental challenges, the response varies widely in one or more of three components: psychology, behavior and physiology. This variability among individuals can be defined as temperament. In recent years, an increasing large body of evidence suggests that the dimensions of temperament, as well as personality, psychological disorders and behavioral traits, are influenced by genetic factors, and much of the variation appears to involve variation in genes or gene polymorphisms in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the behavior-controlling neurotransmitter networks. Here, we review our current understanding of the probabilistic impact of a number of candidate gene polymorphisms that control temperament, psychological disorders and behavioral traits in animals and human, including the gene polymorphisms related to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) production and adrenal cortisol production involved in the HPA axis, and a large number of gene polymorphisms in the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter networks. It will very likely to assist in diagnosis and treatment of human relevant disorders, and provide useful contributions to our understanding of evolution, welfare and conservation, for animals in the wild and in production systems. Additionally, investigations of gene-gene and gene-environment complex interactions in humans and animals need further clear illustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Qiu
- a College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University , Chong Qing , PR China.,b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia
| | - Graeme B Martin
- b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia.,c Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Dominique Blache
- b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia
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13
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Lonsdorf TB, Menz MM, Andreatta M, Fullana MA, Golkar A, Haaker J, Heitland I, Hermann A, Kuhn M, Kruse O, Meir Drexler S, Meulders A, Nees F, Pittig A, Richter J, Römer S, Shiban Y, Schmitz A, Straube B, Vervliet B, Wendt J, Baas JMP, Merz CJ. Don't fear 'fear conditioning': Methodological considerations for the design and analysis of studies on human fear acquisition, extinction, and return of fear. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 77:247-285. [PMID: 28263758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 471] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The so-called 'replicability crisis' has sparked methodological discussions in many areas of science in general, and in psychology in particular. This has led to recent endeavours to promote the transparency, rigour, and ultimately, replicability of research. Originating from this zeitgeist, the challenge to discuss critical issues on terminology, design, methods, and analysis considerations in fear conditioning research is taken up by this work, which involved representatives from fourteen of the major human fear conditioning laboratories in Europe. This compendium is intended to provide a basis for the development of a common procedural and terminology framework for the field of human fear conditioning. Whenever possible, we give general recommendations. When this is not feasible, we provide evidence-based guidance for methodological decisions on study design, outcome measures, and analyses. Importantly, this work is also intended to raise awareness and initiate discussions on crucial questions with respect to data collection, processing, statistical analyses, the impact of subtle procedural changes, and data reporting specifically tailored to the research on fear conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina B Lonsdorf
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Mareike M Menz
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marta Andreatta
- University of Würzburg, Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Miguel A Fullana
- Anxiety Unit, Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Hospital del Mar, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Armita Golkar
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychology Section, Stockholm, Sweden; University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan Haaker
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychology Section, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivo Heitland
- Utrecht University, Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Hermann
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Department of Psychology, Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Giessen, Germany
| | - Manuel Kuhn
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Department of Psychology, Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Giessen, Germany
| | - Shira Meir Drexler
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ann Meulders
- KU Leuven, Health Psychology, Leuven, Belgium; Maastricht University, Research Group Behavioral Medicine, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frauke Nees
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andre Pittig
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Richter
- University of Greifswald, Department of Physiological and Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sonja Römer
- Saarland University, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Youssef Shiban
- University of Regensburg, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schmitz
- University of Regensburg, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Straube
- Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bram Vervliet
- KU Leuven, Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Excellence on Generalization, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia Wendt
- University of Greifswald, Department of Physiological and Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johanna M P Baas
- Utrecht University, Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christian J Merz
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Bochum, Germany
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14
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Savage JE, Sawyers C, Roberson-Nay R, Hettema JM. The genetics of anxiety-related negative valence system traits. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:156-177. [PMID: 27196537 PMCID: PMC5349709 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) domain of negative valence systems (NVS) captures constructs of negative affect such as fear and distress traditionally subsumed under the various internalizing disorders. Through its aims to capture dimensional measures that cut across diagnostic categories and are linked to underlying neurobiological systems, a large number of phenotypic constructs have been proposed as potential research targets. Since "genes" represent a central "unit of analysis" in the RDoC matrix, it is important for studies going forward to apply what is known about the genetics of these phenotypes as well as fill in the gaps of existing knowledge. This article reviews the extant genetic epidemiological data (twin studies, heritability) and molecular genetic association findings for a broad range of putative NVS phenotypic measures. We find that scant genetic epidemiological data is available for experimentally derived measures such as attentional bias, peripheral physiology, or brain-based measures of threat response. The molecular genetic basis of NVS phenotypes is in its infancy, since most studies have focused on a small number of candidate genes selected for putative association to anxiety disorders (ADs). Thus, more research is required to provide a firm understanding of the genetic aspects of anxiety-related NVS constructs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne E. Savage
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Chelsea Sawyers
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Roxann Roberson-Nay
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - John M. Hettema
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
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15
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Luck CC, Lipp OV. Startle modulation and explicit valence evaluations dissociate during backward fear conditioning. Psychophysiology 2017; 54:673-683. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla C. Luck
- School of Psychology and Speech PathologyCurtin UniversityPerth Australia
- ARC‐SRI: Science of Learning Research CentreBrisbane Australia
| | - Ottmar V. Lipp
- School of Psychology and Speech PathologyCurtin UniversityPerth Australia
- ARC‐SRI: Science of Learning Research CentreBrisbane Australia
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16
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How Administration of the Beta-Blocker Propranolol Before Extinction can Prevent the Return of Fear. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:1569-78. [PMID: 26462618 PMCID: PMC4820039 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Combining beta-blockers with exposure therapy has been advocated to reduce fear, yet experimental studies combining beta-blockers with memory reactivation have had contradictory results. We explored how beta-blockade might affect the course of safety learning and the subsequent return of fear in a double-blind placebo-controlled functional magnetic resonance imaging study in humans (N=46). A single dose of propranolol before extinction learning caused a loss of conditioned fear responses, and prevented the subsequent return of fear and decreased explicit memory for the fearful events in the absence of drug. Fear-related neural responses were persistently attenuated in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), increased in the hippocampus 24 h later, and correlated with individual behavioral indices of fear. Prediction error-related responses in the ventral striatum persisted during beta-blockade. We suggest that this pattern of results is most consistent with a model where beta-blockade can prevent the return of fear by (i) reducing retrieval of fear memory, via the dmPFC and (ii) increasing contextual safety learning, via the hippocampus. Our findings suggest that retrieval of fear memory and contextual safety learning form potential mnemonic target mechanisms to optimize exposure-based therapy with beta-blockers.
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17
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Klucken T, Kruse O, Schweckendiek J, Kuepper Y, Mueller EM, Hennig J, Stark R. No evidence for blocking the return of fear by disrupting reconsolidation prior to extinction learning. Cortex 2016; 79:112-22. [PMID: 27111105 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Fear extinction is a central model for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Initial research has reported that the single presentation of a conditioned stimulus prior to extinction learning can permanently block the return of fear. However, only few studies have explored this issue and could not always replicate the findings. The present study examined human fear extinction using a four-day design. On the first day, two neutral stimuli were paired with electrical stimulation (UCS), while a third stimulus (CS-) was not. Twenty-four hours later, one conditioned stimulus (CS+rem) and the CS- were reminded once, 10 min before extinction learning, while the other conditioned stimulus (CS+non-rem) was not presented prior to extinction learning. All stimuli were presented during extinction learning and during two re-extinction sessions (24 h and 6-months after extinction learning) without reinforcement. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses and skin conductance responses (SCRs) to both CS+ and the CS- were explored during acquisition, extinction, and in both re-extinction sessions. Regarding SCRs, the results showed that a single presentation of a conditioned stimulus did not block the return of fear during re-extinction: Fear recovery during re-extinction (24 h and 6-months after extinction learning) was observed for both CS+ compared with the CS- with no difference between CS+rem and CS+non-rem. Regarding BOLD-responses, no significant differences between CS+rem and CS+non-rem were found in region of interest (ROI)-analyses (amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex) during extinction learning and both re-extinction sessions. Whole-brain analyses showed increased BOLD-responses to the CS+non-rem as compared to the CS+rem in several regions (e.g., middle frontal gyrus) during extinction learning and re-extinction (24 h after extinction learning). The present findings suggest that the effect of preventing the return of fear by disrupting reconsolidation seems to be a more labile phenomenon than previously assumed. Possible boundary conditions and implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kuepper
- Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Erik M Mueller
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Juergen Hennig
- Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
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18
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Duits P, Cath DC, Heitland I, Baas JMP. High Current Anxiety Symptoms, But Not a Past Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis, are Associated with Impaired Fear Extinction. Front Psychol 2016; 7:252. [PMID: 26955364 PMCID: PMC4767935 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although impaired fear extinction has repeatedly been demonstrated in patients with anxiety disorders, little is known about whether these impairments persist after treatment. The current comparative exploratory study investigated fear extinction in 26 patients treated for their anxiety disorder in the years preceding the study as compared to 17 healthy control subjects. Fear-potentiated startle and subjective fear were measured in a cue and context fear conditioning paradigm within a virtual reality environment. Results indicated no differences in fear extinction between treated anxiety patients and control subjects. However, scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory across all participants revealed impaired extinction of fear potentiated startle in subjects with high compared to low anxiety symptoms over the past week. Taken together, this exploratory study found no support for impaired fear extinction in treated anxiety patients, and implies that current anxiety symptoms rather than previous patient status determine the success of extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puck Duits
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
- Altrecht Academic Anxiety CentreUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Danielle C. Cath
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
- Altrecht Academic Anxiety CentreUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ivo Heitland
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
- Helmholtz Research InstituteUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Johanna M. P. Baas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
- Helmholtz Research InstituteUtrecht, Netherlands
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19
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Heitland I, Groenink L, van Gool JM, Domschke K, Reif A, Baas JMP. Human fear acquisition deficits in relation to genetic variants of the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 and the serotonin transporter--revisited. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:209-20. [PMID: 26643280 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 08/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We recently showed that a genetic polymorphism (rs878886) in the human corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) is associated with reduced fear-conditioned responses to a threat cue. This is a potentially important finding considering that the failure to acquire fear contingencies can leave an individual in a maladaptive state of more generalized anxiety. Consistent with that idea, the CRHR1-dependent fear acquisition deficit translated into heightened contextual anxiety when taking genetic variability within the serotonin transporter long polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) into account. To replicate our previous findings, we conducted a replication study in 224 healthy medication-free human subjects using the exact same cue and context virtual reality fear-conditioning procedure as in study by Heitland et al. (2013). In the replication study, consistent with the original findings, CRHR1 rs878886 G-allele carriers showed reduced acquisition of cue-specific fear-conditioned responses compared with C/C homozygotes. Also, in this larger sample the cue acquisition deficit of G-allele carriers translated into heightened contextual anxiety, even independent of 5-HTT gene variation. In contrast to our earlier findings, there was an additional interaction effect of CRHR1 rs878886 and the triallelic 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 variant on cued fear acquisition. In summary, this study replicated the initially reported association of the CRHR1 rs878886 G-allele with cued fear acquisition deficits, albeit with a different pattern of results regarding the interaction with 5-HTT variation. This further supports the notion that the human corticotropin-releasing hormone plays a role in the acquisition of fears.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Heitland
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Helmholtz Research Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L Groenink
- Department of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J M van Gool
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - K Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - A Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - J M P Baas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Helmholtz Research Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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20
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Kuhn M, Haaker J, Glotzbach-Schoon E, Schümann D, Andreatta M, Mechias ML, Raczka K, Gartmann N, Büchel C, Mühlberger A, Pauli P, Reif A, Kalisch R, Lonsdorf TB. Converging evidence for an impact of a functional NOS gene variation on anxiety-related processes. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:803-12. [PMID: 26746182 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Being a complex phenotype with substantial heritability, anxiety and related phenotypes are characterized by a complex polygenic basis. Thereby, one candidate pathway is neuronal nitric oxide (NO) signaling, and accordingly, rodent studies have identified NO synthase (NOS-I), encoded by NOS1, as a strong molecular candidate for modulating anxiety and hippocampus-dependent learning processes. Using a multi-dimensional and -methodological replication approach, we investigated the impact of a functional promoter polymorphism (NOS1-ex1f-VNTR) on human anxiety-related phenotypes in a total of 1019 healthy controls in five different studies. Homozygous carriers of the NOS1-ex1f short-allele displayed enhanced trait anxiety, worrying and depression scores. Furthermore, short-allele carriers were characterized by increased anxious apprehension during contextual fear conditioning. While autonomous measures (fear-potentiated startle) provided only suggestive evidence for a modulatory role of NOS1-ex1f-VNTR on (contextual) fear conditioning processes, neural activation at the amygdala/anterior hippocampus junction was significantly increased in short-allele carriers during context conditioning. Notably, this could not be attributed to morphological differences. In accordance with data from a plethora of rodent studies, we here provide converging evidence from behavioral, subjective, psychophysiological and neuroimaging studies in large human cohorts that NOS-I plays an important role in anxious apprehension but provide only limited evidence for a role in (contextual) fear conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Kuhn
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,
| | - Jan Haaker
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evelyn Glotzbach-Schoon
- Department of Psychology I, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg
| | - Dirk Schümann
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology I, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg
| | - Marie-Luise Mechias
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karolina Raczka
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nina Gartmann
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology I, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology I, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, and
| | - Raffael Kalisch
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Neuroimaging Center (NIC), Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Sumner JA, Powers A, Jovanovic T, Koenen KC. Genetic influences on the neural and physiological bases of acute threat: A research domain criteria (RDoC) perspective. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171B:44-64. [PMID: 26377804 PMCID: PMC4715467 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative aims to describe key dimensional constructs underlying mental function across multiple units of analysis-from genes to observable behaviors-in order to better understand psychopathology. The acute threat ("fear") construct of the RDoC Negative Valence System has been studied extensively from a translational perspective, and is highly pertinent to numerous psychiatric conditions, including anxiety and trauma-related disorders. We examined genetic contributions to the construct of acute threat at two units of analysis within the RDoC framework: (1) neural circuits and (2) physiology. Specifically, we focused on genetic influences on activation patterns of frontolimbic neural circuitry and on startle, skin conductance, and heart rate responses. Research on the heritability of activation in threat-related frontolimbic neural circuitry is lacking, but physiological indicators of acute threat have been found to be moderately heritable (35-50%). Genetic studies of the neural circuitry and physiology of acute threat have almost exclusively relied on the candidate gene method and, as in the broader psychiatric genetics literature, most findings have failed to replicate. The most robust support has been demonstrated for associations between variation in the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes with threat-related neural activation and physiological responses. However, unbiased genome-wide approaches using very large samples are needed for gene discovery, and these can be accomplished with collaborative consortium-based research efforts, such as those of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) and Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Sumner
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Wendt J, Neubert J, Lindner K, Ernst FD, Homuth G, Weike AI, Hamm AO. Genetic influences on the acquisition and inhibition of fear. Int J Psychophysiol 2015; 98:499-505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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23
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Klumpers F, Kroes MC, Heitland I, Everaerd D, Akkermans SEA, Oosting RS, van Wingen G, Franke B, Kenemans JL, Fernández G, Baas JMP. Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Mediates the Impact of Serotonin Transporter Linked Polymorphic Region Genotype on Anticipatory Threat Reactions. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 78:582-9. [PMID: 25444169 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive anticipatory reactions to potential future adversity are observed across a range of anxiety disorders, but the neurogenetic mechanisms driving interindividual differences are largely unknown. We aimed to discover and validate a gene-brain-behavior pathway by linking presumed genetic risk for anxiety-related psychopathology, key neural activity involved in anxious anticipation, and resulting aversive emotional states. METHODS The functional neuroanatomy of aversive anticipation was probed through functional magnetic resonance imaging in two independent samples of healthy subjects (n = 99 and n = 69), and we studied the influence of genetic variance in the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). Skin conductance and startle data served as objective psychophysiological indices of the intensity of individuals' anticipatory responses to potential threat. RESULTS Threat cues signaling risk of future electrical shock activated the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), anterior insula, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, thalamus, and midbrain consistently across both samples. Threat-related dmPFC activation was enhanced in 5-HTTLPR short allele carriers in sample 1 and this effect was validated in sample 2. Critically, we show that this region mediates the increase in anticipatory psychophysiological reactions in short allele carriers indexed by skin conductance (experiment 1) and startle reactions (experiment 2). CONCLUSIONS The converging results from these experiments demonstrate that innate 5-HTTLPR linked variation in dmPFC activity predicts psychophysiological responsivity to pending threats. Our results reveal a neurogenetic pathway mediating interindividual variability in anticipatory responses to threat and yield a novel mechanistic account for previously reported associations between genetic variability in serotonin transporter function and stress-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris Klumpers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht.
| | - Marijn C Kroes
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
| | - Ivo Heitland
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
| | - Daphne Everaerd
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
| | | | - Ronald S Oosting
- Department of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht
| | - Guido van Wingen
- Brain Imaging Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Leon Kenemans
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
| | - Guillén Fernández
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
| | - Johanna M P Baas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
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24
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Farb DH, Ratner MH. Targeting the modulation of neural circuitry for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 66:1002-32. [PMID: 25237115 DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.009126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are a major public health concern. Here, we examine the familiar area of anxiolysis in the context of a systems-level understanding that will hopefully lead to revealing an underlying pharmacological connectome. The introduction of benzodiazepines nearly half a century ago markedly improved the treatment of anxiety disorders. These agents reduce anxiety rapidly by allosterically enhancing the postsynaptic actions of GABA at inhibitory type A GABA receptors but side effects limit their use in chronic anxiety disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors have emerged as an effective first-line alternative treatment of such anxiety disorders. However, many individuals are not responsive and side effects can be limiting. Research into a relatively new class of agents known as neurosteroids has revealed novel modulatory sites and mechanisms of action that are providing insights into the pathophysiology of certain anxiety disorders, potentially bridging the gap between the GABAergic and serotonergic circuits underlying anxiety. However, translating the pharmacological activity of compounds targeted to specific receptor subtypes in rodent models of anxiety to effective therapeutics in human anxiety has not been entirely successful. Since modulating any one of several broad classes of receptor targets can produce anxiolysis, we posit that a systems-level discovery platform combined with an individualized medicine approach based on noninvasive brain imaging would substantially advance the development of more effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Farb
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marcia H Ratner
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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25
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Serotonin in fear conditioning processes. Behav Brain Res 2015; 277:68-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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26
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Klumpers F, Morgan B, Terburg D, Stein DJ, van Honk J. Impaired acquisition of classically conditioned fear-potentiated startle reflexes in humans with focal bilateral basolateral amygdala damage. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2014; 10:1161-8. [PMID: 25552573 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on studies in rodents, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is considered a key site for experience-dependent neural plasticity underlying the acquisition of conditioned fear responses. In humans, very few studies exist of subjects with selective amygdala lesions and those studies have only implicated the amygdala more broadly leaving the role of amygdala sub-regions underexplored. We tested a rare sample of subjects (N = 4) with unprecedented focal bilateral BLA lesions due to a genetic condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease. In a classical delay fear conditioning experiment, these subjects showed impaired acquisition of conditioned fear relative to a group of matched control subjects (N = 10) as measured by fear-potentiation of the defensive eye-blink startle reflex. After the experiment, the BLA-damaged cases showed normal declarative memory of the conditioned association. Our findings provide new evidence that the human BLA is essential to drive fast classically conditioned defensive reflexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris Klumpers
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands,
| | - Barak Morgan
- Department of Human Biology, MRC Medical Imaging Research Unit, University of Cape Town, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David Terburg
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, and
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, and
| | - Jack van Honk
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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27
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Baas JMP, Heitland I. The impact of cue learning, trait anxiety and genetic variation in the serotonin 1A receptor on contextual fear. Int J Psychophysiol 2014; 98:506-14. [PMID: 25448266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In everyday life, aversive events are usually associated with certain predictive cues. Normally, the acquisition of these contingencies enables organisms to appropriately respond to threat. Presence of a threat cue clearly signals 'danger', whereas absence of such cues signals a period of 'safety'. Failure to identify threat cues may lead to chronic states of anxious apprehension in the context in which the threat has been imminent, which may be instrumental in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. In this study, existing data from 150 healthy volunteers in a cue and context virtual reality fear conditioning paradigm were reanalyzed. The aim was to further characterize the impact of cue acquisition and trait anxiety, and of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the serotonin 1A receptor gene (5-HTR1A, rs6295), on cued fear and contextual anxiety before and after fear contingencies were explicitly introduced. Fear conditioned responding was quantified with fear potentiation of the eyeblink startle reflex and subjective fear ratings. First, we replicated previous findings that the inability to identify danger cues during acquisition leads to heightened anxious apprehension in the threat context. Second, in subjects who did not identify the danger cue initially, contextual fear was associated with trait anxiety after the contingencies were explicitly instructed. Third, genetic variability within 5-HTR1A (rs6295) was associated with contextual fear independent of awareness or trait anxiety. These findings confirm that failure to acquire cue contingencies impacts contextual fear responding, in association with trait anxiety. The observed 5-HTR1A effect is in line with models of anxiety, but needs further replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M P Baas
- Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Helmholtz Research Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Ivo Heitland
- Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Helmholtz Research Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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28
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Johnson PL, Federici LM, Shekhar A. Etiology, triggers and neurochemical circuits associated with unexpected, expected, and laboratory-induced panic attacks. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 46 Pt 3:429-54. [PMID: 25130976 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Panic disorder (PD) is a severe anxiety disorder that is characterized by recurrent panic attacks (PA), which can be unexpected (uPA, i.e., no clear identifiable trigger) or expected (ePA). Panic typically involves an abrupt feeling of catastrophic fear or distress accompanied by physiological symptoms such as palpitations, racing heart, thermal sensations, and sweating. Recurrent uPA and ePA can also lead to agoraphobia, where subjects with PD avoid situations that were associated with PA. Here we will review recent developments in our understanding of PD, which includes discussions on: symptoms and signs associated with uPA and ePAs; Diagnosis of PD and the new DSM-V; biological etiology such as heritability and gene×environment and gene×hormonal development interactions; comparisons between laboratory and naturally occurring uPAs and ePAs; neurochemical systems that are associated with clinical PAs (e.g. gene associations; targets for triggering or treating PAs), adaptive fear and panic response concepts in the context of new NIH RDoc approach; and finally strengths and weaknesses of translational animal models of adaptive and pathological panic states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L Johnson
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Lauren M Federici
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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29
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Lonsdorf TB, Golkar A, Lindström KM, Haaker J, Öhman A, Schalling M, Ingvar M. BDNFval66met affects neural activation pattern during fear conditioning and 24 h delayed fear recall. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2014; 10:664-71. [PMID: 25103087 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the most abundant neutrophin in the mammalian central nervous system, is critically involved in synaptic plasticity. In both rodents and humans, BDNF has been implicated in hippocampus- and amygdala-dependent learning and memory and has more recently been linked to fear extinction processes. Fifty-nine healthy participants, genotyped for the functional BDNFval66met polymorphism, underwent a fear conditioning and 24h-delayed extinction protocol while skin conductance and blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) responses (functional magnetic resonance imaging) were acquired. We present the first report of neural activation pattern during fear acquisition 'and' extinction for the BDNFval66met polymorphism using a differential conditioned stimulus (CS)+ > CS- comparison. During conditioning, we observed heightened allele dose-dependent responses in the amygdala and reduced responses in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in BDNFval66met met-carriers. During early extinction, 24h later, we again observed heightened responses in several regions ascribed to the fear network in met-carriers as opposed to val-carriers (insula, amygdala, hippocampus), which likely reflects fear memory recall. No differences were observed during late extinction, which likely reflects learned extinction. Our data thus support previous associations of the BDNFval66met polymorphism with neural activation in the fear and extinction network, but speak against a specific association with fear extinction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina B Lonsdorf
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Armita Golkar
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Kara M Lindström
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Haaker
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Arne Öhman
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Martin Schalling
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Martin Ingvar
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Brain Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Neurogenetics Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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30
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Fang Z, Zhu S, Gillihan SJ, Korczykowski M, Detre JA, Rao H. Serotonin transporter genotype modulates functional connectivity between amygdala and PCC/PCu during mood recovery. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:704. [PMID: 24198772 PMCID: PMC3813895 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The short (S) allele of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with increased susceptibility to depression. Previous neuroimaging studies have consistently showed increased amygdala activity during the presentation of negative stimuli or regulation of negative emotion in the homozygous short allele carriers, suggesting the key role of amygdala response in mediating increased risk for depression. The brain default mode network (DMN) has also been shown to modulate amygdala activity. However, it remains unclear whether 5-HTTLPR genetic variation modulates functional connectivity (FC) between the amygdala and regions of DMN. In this study, we re-analyzed our previous imaging dataset and examined the effects of 5-HTTLPR genetic variation on amygdala connectivity. A total of 15 homozygous short (S/S) and 15 homozygous long individuals (L/L) were scanned in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during four blocks: baseline, sad mood, mood recovery, and return to baseline. The S/S and L/L groups showed a similar pattern of FC and no differences were found between the two groups during baseline and sad mood scans. However, during mood recovery, the S/S group showed significantly reduced anti-correlation between amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu) compared to the L/L group. Moreover, PCC/PCu-amygdala connectivity correlated with amygdala activity in the S/S group but not the L/L group. These results suggest that 5-HTTLPR genetic variation modulates amygdala connectivity which subsequently affects its activity during mood regulation, providing an additional mechanism by which the S allele confers depression risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Fang
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, GuangzhouChina
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Senhua Zhu
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, GuangzhouChina
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seth J. Gillihan
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, GuangzhouChina
| | - Marc Korczykowski
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A. Detre
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hengyi Rao
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, GuangzhouChina
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
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31
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Yildirim BO, Derksen JJ. Systematic review, structural analysis, and new theoretical perspectives on the role of serotonin and associated genes in the etiology of psychopathy and sociopathy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:1254-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Human fear acquisition deficits in relation to genetic variants of the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 and the serotonin transporter. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63772. [PMID: 23717480 PMCID: PMC3661730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to identify predictors of aversive events allows organisms to appropriately respond to these events, and failure to acquire these fear contingencies can lead to maladaptive contextual anxiety. Recently, preclinical studies demonstrated that the corticotropin-releasing factor and serotonin systems are interactively involved in adaptive fear acquisition. Here, 150 healthy medication-free human subjects completed a cue and context fear conditioning procedure in a virtual reality environment. Fear potentiation of the eyeblink startle reflex (FPS) was measured to assess both uninstructed fear acquisition and instructed fear expression. All participants were genotyped for polymorphisms located within regulatory regions of the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1 - rs878886) and the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR). These polymorphisms have previously been linked to panic disorder and anxious symptomology and personality, respectively. G-allele carriers of CRHR1 (rs878886) showed no acquisition of fear conditioned responses (FPS) to the threat cue in the uninstructed phase, whereas fear acquisition was present in C/C homozygotes. Moreover, carrying the risk alleles of both rs878886 (G-allele) and 5HTTLPR (short allele) was associated with increased FPS to the threat context during this phase. After explicit instructions regarding the threat contingency were given, the cue FPS and context FPS normalized in all genotype groups. The present results indicate that genetic variability in the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, especially in interaction with the 5HTTLPR, is involved in the acquisition of fear in humans. This translates prior animal findings to the human realm.
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Glotzbach-Schoon E, Andreatta M, Reif A, Ewald H, Tröger C, Baumann C, Deckert J, Mühlberger A, Pauli P. Contextual fear conditioning in virtual reality is affected by 5HTTLPR and NPSR1 polymorphisms: effects on fear-potentiated startle. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:31. [PMID: 23630477 PMCID: PMC3632789 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin (5-HT) and neuropeptide S (NPS) systems are discussed as important genetic modulators of fear and sustained anxiety contributing to the etiology of anxiety disorders. Sustained anxiety is a crucial characteristic of most anxiety disorders which likely develops through contextual fear conditioning. This study investigated if and how genetic alterations of the 5-HT and the NPS systems as well as their interaction modulate contextual fear conditioning; specifically, function polymorphic variants in the genes coding for the 5-HT transporter (5HTT) and the NPS receptor (NPSR1) were studied. A large group of healthy volunteers was therefore stratified for 5HTTLPR (S+ vs. LL carriers) and NPSR1 rs324981 (T+ vs. AA carriers) polymorphisms resulting in four genotype groups (S+/T+, S+/AA, LL/T+, LL/AA) of 20 participants each. All participants underwent contextual fear conditioning and extinction using a virtual reality (VR) paradigm. During acquisition, one virtual office room (anxiety context, CXT+) was paired with an unpredictable electric stimulus (unconditioned stimulus, US), whereas another virtual office room was not paired with any US (safety context, CXT−). During extinction no US was administered. Anxiety responses were quantified by fear-potentiated startle and ratings. Most importantly, we found a gene × gene interaction on fear-potentiated startle. Only carriers of both risk alleles (S+/T+) exhibited higher startle responses in CXT+ compared to CXT−. In contrast, anxiety ratings were only influenced by the NPSR1 polymorphism with AA carriers showing higher anxiety ratings in CXT+ as compared to CXT−. Our results speak in favor of a two level account of fear conditioning with diverging effects on implicit vs. explicit fear responses. Enhanced contextual fear conditioning as reflected in potentiated startle responses may be an endophenotype for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Glotzbach-Schoon
- Department of Psychology I, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
Failure to extinguish fear can lead to persevering anxiety and has been postulated as an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of human anxiety disorders. In animals, it is well documented that the endogenous cannabinoid system has a pivotal role in the successful extinction of fear, most importantly through the cannabinoid receptor 1. However, no human studies have reported a translation of this preclinical evidence yet. Healthy medication-free human subjects (N=150) underwent a fear conditioning and extinction procedure in a virtual reality environment. Fear potentiation of the eyeblink startle reflex was measured to assess fear-conditioned responding, and subjective fear ratings were collected. Participants were genotyped for two polymorphisms located within the promoter region (rs2180619) and the coding region (rs1049353) of cannabinoid receptor 1. As predicted from the preclinical literature, acquisition and expression of conditioned fear did not differ between genotypes. Crucially, whereas both homozygote (G/G, N=23) and heterozygote (A/G, N=68) G-allele carriers of rs2180619 displayed robust extinction of fear, extinction of fear-potentiated startle was absent in A/A homozygotes (N=51). Additionally, this resistance to extinguish fear left A/A carriers of rs2180619 with significantly higher levels of fear-potentiated startle at the end of the extinction training. No effects of rs1049353 genotype were observed regarding fear acquisition and extinction. These results suggest for the first time involvement of the human endocannabinoid system in fear extinction. Implications are that genetic variability in this system may underlie individual differences in anxiety, rendering cannabinoid receptor 1 a potential target for novel pharmacological treatments of anxiety disorders.
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Klauke B, Winter B, Gajewska A, Zwanzger P, Reif A, Herrmann MJ, Dlugos A, Warrings B, Jacob C, Mühlberger A, Arolt V, Pauli P, Deckert J, Domschke K. Affect-modulated startle: interactive influence of catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype and childhood trauma. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39709. [PMID: 22745815 PMCID: PMC3382176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology of emotion-related disorders such as anxiety or affective disorders is considered to be complex with an interaction of biological and environmental factors. Particular evidence has accumulated for alterations in the dopaminergic and noradrenergic system--partly conferred by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene variation--for the adenosinergic system as well as for early life trauma to constitute risk factors for those conditions. Applying a multi-level approach, in a sample of 95 healthy adults, we investigated effects of the functional COMT Val158Met polymorphism, caffeine as an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist (300 mg in a placebo-controlled intervention design) and childhood maltreatment (CTQ) as well as their interaction on the affect-modulated startle response as a neurobiologically founded defensive reflex potentially related to fear- and distress-related disorders. COMT val/val genotype significantly increased startle magnitude in response to unpleasant stimuli, while met/met homozygotes showed a blunted startle response to aversive pictures. Furthermore, significant gene-environment interaction of COMT Val158Met genotype with CTQ was discerned with more maltreatment being associated with higher startle potentiation in val/val subjects but not in met carriers. No main effect of or interaction effects with caffeine were observed. Results indicate a main as well as a GxE effect of the COMT Val158Met variant and childhood maltreatment on the affect-modulated startle reflex, supporting a complex pathogenetic model of the affect-modulated startle reflex as a basic neurobiological defensive reflex potentially related to anxiety and affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Klauke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Christoph Dornier Clinic of Psychotherapy, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bernward Winter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Agnes Gajewska
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Martin J. Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Dlugos
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bodo Warrings
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Deckert
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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