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Zhao Q, Wang Z, Yang C, Chen H, Zhang Y, Zeb I, Wang P, Wu H, Xiao Q, Xu F, Bian Y, Xiang N, Qiu M. Anxiety symptoms without depression are associated with cognitive control network (CNN) dysfunction: An fNIRS study. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14564. [PMID: 38487932 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety is a common psychological disorder associated with other mental disorders, with depression being the most common comorbidity. Few studies have examined the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety after controlling for depression. This study aimed to explore whether there are differences in cortical activation in anxiety patients with different severities whose depression are normal. In the current study, depression levels were normal for 366 subjects-139 healthy subjects, 117 with mild anxiety, and 110 with major anxiety. Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a verbal fluency task (VFT) to test subjects' anxiety and depression and cognitive function, respectively. A 53-channel guided near-infrared spectroscopic imaging technology (fNIRS) detected the concentration of oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb). Correlation analysis between anxiety severity and oxy-Hb concentration in the brain cortex was performed, as well as ANOVA analysis of oxy-Hb concentration among the three anxiety severity groups. The results showed that anxiety severity was significantly and negatively correlated with oxy-Hb concentrations in the left frontal eye field (lFEF) and in the right dorsolateral prefrontal area (rDLPFC). The oxy-Hb concentration in the lFEF and the rDLPFC were significantly lower in the major anxiety disorder group than that in the control group. This suggests that decreased cortical activity of the lFEF and rDLPFC may be neural markers of anxiety symptoms after controlling for depression. Anxiety symptoms without depression may be result from the dysfunction of the cognitive control network (CCN) which includes the lFEF and rDLPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Zhao
- Dean's Office, MianYang Teachers' College, Mianyang, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- School of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Caihong Yang
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Han Chen
- President Office, MianYang Teachers' College, Mianyang, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Irum Zeb
- School of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pu Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The seventh Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huifen Wu
- School of education, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiang Xiao
- Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Xu
- Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yueran Bian
- School of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nian Xiang
- Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Qiu
- Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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2
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Shner-Livne G, Buzzell GA, Fox NA, Shechner T. Induced error-related theta activity, not error-related negativity, predicts task performance as well as anxiety and worry during real-life stress in a youth sample. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14492. [PMID: 38073088 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study examined differences between induced error-related theta activity (4-7 Hz) and error-related negativity (ERN) in youth and their unique associations with task performance as well as anxiety and worry during real-life stress a year later. We hypothesized that induced theta, but not the ERN, would predict task performance. We also hypothesized that induced theta would predict less anxiety and worries during situational stress a year later, while ERN would predict more anxiety and worries. METHOD Participants included 76 children aged 8-13 years who completed a flanker task while electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavioral data (t0 ) were collected. Approximately 1 year later (t1 ), during the first COVID-19 lockdown, 40 families from the original sample completed a battery of online questionnaires to assess the children's stress-related symptoms (anxiety, negative emotions and worries). We employed an analytical method that allowed us to differentiate between induced error-related theta and the evoked ERN. RESULTS Induced error-related theta, but not ERN, was associated with behavioral changes during the task, such as post-error speeding. Furthermore, induced error-related theta, but not ERN, was prospectively associated with less anxiety, worries, and fewer negative emotions a year later during COVID-19 lockdown. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest ERN and error-related theta are dissociable processes reflecting error monitoring in youth. Specifically, induced error-related theta is more robustly associated with changes in behavior in the laboratory and with less anxiety and worries in real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Shner-Livne
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - George A Buzzell
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nathan A Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Tomer Shechner
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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3
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Kotlewska I, Panek B, Nowicka A, Asanowicz D. Posterior theta activity reveals an early signal of self-face recognition. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13823. [PMID: 37620563 PMCID: PMC10449829 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41071-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-related visual information, especially one's own face and name, are processed in a specific, prioritized way. However, the spatio-temporal brain dynamics of self-prioritization have remained elusive. Moreover, it has been unclear whether this prioritization is an effect of enhancement and amplification, or rather a facilitating automatization of processing self-referential information. In this EEG study, 25 married women (who changed their surnames after marriage, so that their past and present surnames could be used as stimuli) performed a detection task with faces and names from five categories: self, self from the past, friend, famous, and unknown person. The aim was to determine the temporal and spatial characteristics of early electrophysiological markers of self-referential processing. We report results of event-related component (ERP) and time-frequency analyses. In the ERPs, the earliest self-relevance effect was displayed only 300 ms after stimulus onset in the midfrontal N2, and later in the parietal P3b, independently of the stimulus type. No self-relevance effect was found on the N170 component. However, local theta power at the occipito-temporal (visual) areas and inter-regional theta phase coherence between the visual and midfrontal areas showed that self-relevance differentiation of faces began already about 100-300 ms after stimulus onset. No such early effects were found for names. The results are discussed in terms of the time-course, functional localization, stimulus-specificity, and automatization of self-prioritization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Kotlewska
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Panek
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Nowicka
- Laboratory of Language Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteura 3, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Asanowicz
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060, Krakow, Poland
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4
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Dell'Acqua C, Hajcak G, Amir N, Santopetro NJ, Brush CJ, Meyer A. Error-related brain activity: A time-domain and time-frequency investigation in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14216. [PMID: 36332634 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Increased error-related negativity (ERN), a measure of error monitoring, has been suggested as a biomarker of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Additional insight into error monitoring is possible using time-frequency decomposition of electroencephalographic (EEG) data, as it allows disentangling the brain's parallel processing of information. Greater error-related theta is thought to reflect an error detection signal, while delta activity may reflect more elaborative post-detection processes (i.e., strategic adjustments). Recent investigations show that decreased error-related alpha may index attentional engagement following errors; additionally, increases and decreases in error-related beta could reflect motor inhibition and motor preparation, respectively. However, time-frequency dynamics of error monitoring in OCD are largely unknown. The present study examined time-frequency theta, delta, alpha and beta power in early adolescents with OCD using a data-driven, cluster-based approach. The aim was to explore electrocortical measures of error monitoring in early adolescents with (n = 27, 15 females) and without OCD (n = 27, 14 females) during an arrowhead version of the flanker task while EEG activity was recorded. Results indicated that the OCD group was characterized by increased ERN and error-related theta, as well as reduced error-related beta power decrease (i.e., greater power) compared to participants without OCD. Greater error-related beta explained variance in OCD over and above the ERN and error-related theta. By examining separate time-frequency measures, the present study provides novel insights into the dynamics of error monitoring, suggesting that pediatric OCD may be characterized by enhanced error monitoring (i.e., greater theta power) and post-error inhibition (i.e., reduced beta power decrease).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Dell'Acqua
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Nader Amir
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Christopher J Brush
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Department of Movement Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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5
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Scheuble V, Bertram FE, Beauducel A. Conditions affecting the association of general trait-anxiety with the ERN-Ne. Front Psychol 2022; 13:871443. [PMID: 36033014 PMCID: PMC9404500 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.871443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ERN-Ne of the event-related potential indicates error monitoring. Even though enlarged ERN-Ne amplitudes have often been related to higher anxiety scores, a recent meta-analysis provided very small effect sizes for the association of trait-anxiety with the ERN-Ne. Conditions modulating this association were investigated in the present study: (1) The generality of the trait-anxiety factor, (2) gender, and (3) experimental conditions, i.e., worry induction and error aversiveness. Participants (48% men) completed a flanker task. Worries were induced before the task by giving participants (n = 61) a bogus feedback claiming their responses were slower than the average responses of participants, whereas other participants (n = 61) got the feedback that they responded as fast as other participants. Aversiveness of errors was varied by playing sinus tones after too slow responses in one part of the task (no-scream condition) and aversive screams after too slow responses in another part (scream condition). Increased ERN-Ne amplitudes of response time errors occurred for individuals higher on trait-anxiety in the condition with induced worries and screams. A multiple group model for women and men indicated that women are more sensitive to conditions altering the association of trait-anxiety with the ERN-Ne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Scheuble
- Department of Methods and Diagnostics, Institute of Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- *Correspondence: Vera Scheuble,
| | - Fee-Elisabeth Bertram
- Department of Psychological Assessment and Differential Psychology, Insitute of Psychology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - André Beauducel
- Department of Methods and Diagnostics, Institute of Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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6
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Brak IV, Filimonova E, Zakhariya O, Khasanov R, Stepanyan I. Transcranial Current Stimulation as a Tool of Neuromodulation of Cognitive Functions in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:781488. [PMID: 35903808 PMCID: PMC9314857 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.781488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Decrease in cognitive function is one of the most common causes of poor life quality and early disability in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Existing methods of treatment are aimed at both correction of motor and non-motor symptoms. Methods of adjuvant therapy (or complementary therapy) for maintaining cognitive functions in patients with PD are of interest. A promising subject of research in this regard is the method of transcranial electric current stimulation (tES). Here we reviewed the current understanding of the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in PD and of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial alternating current stimulation on the cognitive function of patients with PD-MCI (Parkinson’s Disease–Mild Cognitive Impairment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V. Brak
- Laboratory of Comprehensive Problems of Risk Assessment to Population and Workers’ Health, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health”, Moscow, Russia
- “Engiwiki” Scientific and Engineering Projects Laboratory, Department of Information Technologies, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
- *Correspondence: Ivan V. Brak,
| | | | - Oleg Zakhariya
- Faculty of Philosophy, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Rustam Khasanov
- Faculty of Philosophy, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Independent Researcher, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ivan Stepanyan
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Mechanical Engineering Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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7
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Umemoto A, Cole SL, Allison GO, Dolan S, Lazarov A, Auerbach RP, Schneier F. Neurophysiological predictors of gaze-contingent music reward therapy among adults with social anxiety disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:155-162. [PMID: 34487992 PMCID: PMC8557124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is associated with fear of negative evaluation and heightened performance monitoring. The best-established treatments help only a subset of patients, and there are no well-established predictors of treatment response. The current study investigated whether individual differences in processing errors might predict response to gaze-contingent music reward therapy (GC-MRT). At baseline, healthy control subjects (HC; n = 20) and adults with SAD (n = 29), ages 19-43 years, completed the Flanker Task while electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded. SAD participants then received up to 12 sessions over 8 weeks of GC-MRT, designed to train participants' attention away from threatening and toward neutral faces. Clinical assessments were completed 9- (post-treatment) and 20-weeks (follow-up) after initiating the treatment. At baseline, compared to HC, SAD performed the task more accurately and exhibited increased error-related negativity (ERN) and delta power to error commission. After controlling for age and baseline symptoms, more negative ERN and increased frontal midline theta (FMT) predicted reduced self-reported social anxiety symptoms at post-treatment, and FMT also predicted clinician-rated and self-reported symptom reduction at the follow-up assessment. Hypervigilance to error is characteristic of SAD and warrants further research as a predictor of treatment response for GC-MRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akina Umemoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sally L Cole
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Sarah Dolan
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amit Lazarov
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Randy P Auerbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Division of Clinical Developmental Neuroscience, Sackler Institute, USA
| | - Franklin Schneier
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Yuan H, Zheng T, Chang Y, Luo Y, Chen X. Your happy expressions encourage me to take risks: ERP evidence from an interpersonal gambling game. Biol Psychol 2021; 166:108205. [PMID: 34653548 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the influence of endogenous emotion on decision-making has been widely studied, the effect of interpersonal emotions on risk decision-making is less understood. To address this issue, participants were asked to perform an interpersonal gambling game after perceiving their cooperator's facial emotions. The results found that the cooperator's happy expressions increased individuals' risk-approaching choice compared with angry expressions. Moreover, happy expressions induced larger P300 potentials in the option assessment stage, and diminished the differences between losses and wins in feedback-related FRN/RewP in the outcome valuation stage. Additionally, single-trial analysis found that the neural response induced by interpersonal expressions and feedback could predict participants' subsequent decision-making. These findings suggest that interpersonal emotions shape individuals' risk preference through enhancing in-depth valuation in the option assessment stage and early motivational salience valuation in the outcome valuation stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Psychology in Shaanxi Province, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tingting Zheng
- Leiden University Center for Linguistics & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yingchao Chang
- Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Psychology in Shaanxi Province, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yangmei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Psychology in Shaanxi Province, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuhai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Psychology in Shaanxi Province, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
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9
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Trait anxiety modulates the temporal dynamics of Stroop task switching: An ERP study. Biol Psychol 2021; 163:108144. [PMID: 34242721 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The current study aimed to find neural evidence that trait anxiety interferes with one's shifting function processing efficiency. Twenty-five high trait-anxiety (HTA) and twenty-five low trait-anxiety (LTA) participants were instructed to complete a cue-based Stroop task-switching assessment of shifting function. No group difference in behavioral performance was shown, though event-related potential (ERP) results in the cue-locked period showed that only the LTA group had a general switch benefit in contingent negative variation (CNV) amplitude, indicating the LTA group exerted less task preparation effort. In the subsequent target-locked period, compared to the LTA group, the local switch cost of target-P3 was higher in the HTA group in incompatible trials, suggesting inefficient attentional resource allocation in the HTA group in incompatible trials. These ERP findings indicated that the HTA group ultimately achieved comparable behavioral performance with the LTA group at the expense of using more compensatory strategies at the neural level.
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10
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Strand N, Fang L, Carlson JM. Sex Differences in Anxiety: An Investigation of the Moderating Role of Sex in Performance Monitoring and Attentional Bias to Threat in High Trait Anxious Individuals. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:627589. [PMID: 34093149 PMCID: PMC8172782 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.627589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are more predominant in women than men, however there is a lack of understanding as to what neurocognitive mechanisms drive this sex difference. Recent investigation has found a potential moderating role of sex in the relationship between anxiety and the error related negativity (ERN)—a component of error-monitoring that is prevalent in high anxiety individuals—such that females display a positive relationship between anxiety/worry and ERN amplitude. We strove to further explore the influence of sex on the relationship between trait anxiety and performance monitoring, specifically with ERN, as well as extend this work to include another hallmark of anxiety, attentional bias to threat. To meet this end, participants performed the flanker and dot-probe tasks, respectively. We did not find a significant difference in the relationship between attention bias scores and anxiety for female vs. males participants. Furthermore, ΔERN amplitudes were greater in males compared to females, and males had more positive CRN amplitudes than females. There were no significant associations between ERN or ΔERN with anxiety in both male and female participants. However, there was a significant relationship between CRN amplitudes and trait anxiety in male but not female participants. Given these results, the effect of sex on the relationship between components of performance monitoring—namely the CRN and ERN—and anxiety may be more nuanced than the current understanding. Our study was limited to detecting medium to large sized moderation effects. Our findings may be important for future meta-analysis on sex differences in anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Strand
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, United States
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, United States
| | - Joshua M Carlson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, United States
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11
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König N, Steber S, Borowski A, Bliem HR, Rossi S. Neural Processing of Cognitive Control in an Emotionally Neutral Context in Anxiety Patients. Brain Sci 2021; 11:543. [PMID: 33925958 PMCID: PMC8146407 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired cognitive control plays a crucial role in anxiety disorders and is associated with deficient neural mechanisms in the fronto-parietal network. Usually, these deficits were found in tasks with an emotional context. The present study aimed at investigating electrophysiological and vascular signatures from event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in anxiety patients versus healthy controls during an inhibition task integrated in an emotionally neutral context. Neural markers were acquired during the completion of a classical Eriksen flanker task. The focus of data analysis has been the ERPs N200 and P300 and fNIRS activations in addition to task performance. No behavioral or neural group differences were identified. ERP findings showed a larger N2pc and a delayed and reduced P300 for incongruent stimuli. The N2pc modulation suggests the reorienting of attention to salient stimuli, while the P300 indicates longer lasting stimulus evaluation processes due to increased task difficulty. FNIRS did not result in any significant activation potentially suggesting a contribution from deeper brain areas not measurable with fNIRS. The missing group difference in our non-emotional task indicates that no generalized cognitive control deficit but rather a more emotionally driven deficit is present in anxiety patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola König
- ICONE-Innsbruck Cognitive Neuroscience, Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52f, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sarah Steber
- ICONE-Innsbruck Cognitive Neuroscience, Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52f, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Borowski
- ICONE-Innsbruck Cognitive Neuroscience, Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52f, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Harald R. Bliem
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52f, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sonja Rossi
- ICONE-Innsbruck Cognitive Neuroscience, Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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12
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Carlson JM. A systematic review of event-related potentials as outcome measures of attention bias modification. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13801. [PMID: 33682161 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Attention bias modification (ABM) was initially developed with the goal of reducing attentional bias to threat-and subsequently anxious symptoms-in individuals with heightened anxiety. Although controversial, ABM appears to be generally effective in achieving this goal. Yet, the primary outcome measure of ABM (i.e., the reaction time-based differences score) has poor reliability and temporal resolution, which limits the inferences that can be drawn. In contrast, event-related potentials (ERPs) have superior reliability as well as temporal resolution and may therefore be better outcome measures of ABM. In this review, I systematically assess the research using ERPs as outcome measures in ABM protocols. I focus on the extent to which the ERPs modified by ABM represent earlier or later stages of information processing. In addition, I explore the extent to which ABM produces near and/or far transfer of learning effects on ERP measures. The reviewed literature suggests that ERPs are promising outcome measures of ABM. ABM modulates the effects of affective stimuli on posterior visually evoked ERPs (i.e., P1) as well as ERPs at anterior electrodes (i.e., P2, N2, and ERN). Based on the state of the field, several directions for future research are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Carlson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
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13
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Gilbertson H, Fang L, Andrzejewski JA, Carlson JM. Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex intrinsic functional connectivity linked to electrocortical measures of error monitoring. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13794. [PMID: 33624288 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN) is a response-locked event-related potential, occurring approximately 50 ms following an erroneous response at frontocentral electrode sites. Source localization and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research indicate that the ERN is likely generated by activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). The dACC is thought to be a part of a broader network of brain regions that collectively comprise an error monitoring network. However, little is known about how intrinsic connectivity within the dACC-based error monitoring network contributes to variability in ERN amplitude. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between dACC functional connectivity and ERN amplitude. In a sample of highly trait anxious individuals, the ERN was elicited in a flanker task and functional connectivity was assessed in a 10-min resting-state fMRI scan. Results suggest that the strength of dACC seeded functional connectivity with the supplementary motor area is correlated with the ΔERN (i.e., incorrect-correct responses) amplitude such that greater ΔERN amplitude was accompanied by greater functional coupling between these regions. In sum, ERN amplitude appears to be related to the strength of functional connectivity between error monitoring and motor control regions of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Gilbertson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Jeremy A Andrzejewski
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Joshua M Carlson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
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Theta Synchrony Is Increased near Neural Populations That Are Active When Initiating Instructed Movement. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0252-20.2020. [PMID: 33355232 PMCID: PMC7901148 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0252-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Theta oscillations (3–8 Hz) in the human brain have been linked to perception, cognitive control, and spatial memory, but their relation to the motor system is less clear. We tested the hypothesis that theta oscillations coordinate distributed behaviorally relevant neural representations during movement using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings from nine patients (n = 490 electrodes) as they performed a simple instructed movement task. Using high frequency activity (HFA; 70–200 Hz) as a marker of local spiking activity, we identified electrodes that were positioned near neural populations that showed increased activity during instruction and movement. We found that theta synchrony was widespread throughout the brain but was increased near regions that showed movement-related increases in neural activity. These results support the view that theta oscillations represent a general property of brain activity that may also play a specific role in coordinating widespread neural activity when initiating voluntary movement.
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15
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Cavanagh JF, Rieger RE, Wilson JK, Gill D, Fullerton L, Brandt E, Mayer AR. Joint analysis of frontal theta synchrony and white matter following mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 14:2210-2223. [PMID: 31368085 PMCID: PMC6992511 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-019-00171-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most disabling aspects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) include lingering deficits in executive functioning. It is known that mTBI can damage white matter tracts, but it remains unknown how this structural brain damage translates into cognitive deficits. This experiment utilized theta band phase synchrony to identify the dysfunctional neural operations that contribute to cognitive problems following mTBI. Sub-acute stage (< 2 weeks) mTBI patients (N = 52) and healthy matched controls (N = 32) completed a control-demanding task with concurrent EEG. Structural MRI was also collected. While there were no performance-specific behavioral differences between groups in the dot probe expectancy task, the degree of theta band phase synchrony immediately following injury predicted the degree of symptom recovery two months later. Although there were no differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between groups, joint independent components analysis revealed that a smaller network of lower FA-valued voxels contributed to a diminished frontal theta phase synchrony network in the mTBI group. This finding suggests that frontal theta band markers of cognitive control are sensitive to sub-threshold structural aberrations following mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Rebecca E Rieger
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - J Kevin Wilson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Darbi Gill
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Lynne Fullerton
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 116025, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Emma Brandt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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16
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Hanna GL, Liu Y, Rough HE, Surapaneni M, Hanna BS, Arnold PD, Gehring WJ. A Diagnostic Biomarker for Pediatric Generalized Anxiety Disorder Using the Error-Related Negativity. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2020; 51:827-838. [PMID: 32656660 PMCID: PMC7529976 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative deflection in the event-related potential following a mistake that is a putative biomarker of anxiety. The study assessed the ERN as a diagnostic biomarker using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses in 96 cases with anxiety disorders (AD) and 96 matched healthy controls (HC) ages 8 to 18 years. Forty-one cases had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); 55 cases had other anxiety disorders (OAD) without GAD. ERN amplitude was significantly increased in AD cases compared to HC. The area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC analysis was 0.64, indicating the ERN is an inadequate diagnostic test for AD altogether. The ERN was significantly increased in cases with either GAD or OAD compared to HC. The AUC in ROC analyses with GAD and OAD was 0.75 and 0.56, respectively, suggesting the ERN provides an adequate diagnostic test for GAD but not for OAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Yanni Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Haley E Rough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Mihir Surapaneni
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Barbara S Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Paul D Arnold
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - William J Gehring
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5766, USA
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17
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Osborne KJ, Kraus B, Lam PH, Vargas T, Mittal VA. Contingent Negative Variation Blunting and Psychomotor Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review. Schizophr Bull 2020; 46:1144-1154. [PMID: 32221557 PMCID: PMC7505188 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The contingent negative variation (CNV) is an event-related potential that provides a neural index of psychomotor processes (eg, attention and motor planning) well known to be dysfunctional in schizophrenia. Although evidence suggests that CNV amplitude is blunted in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) compared to healthy controls (HCs), there is currently no meta-analytic evidence for the size of the effect. Further, it is unknown how CNV blunting compares to closely related measures of psychomotor dysfunction, such as reaction time slowing. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled effect size (ES) across 30 studies investigating CNV amplitude differences between patients and HCs (NSZ = 685, NHC = 714). Effect sizes for reaction time slowing across the studies were also quantified. Potential moderators, including sample characteristics and aspects of the CNV measurement, were examined. There was robust blunting of CNV activity in patients compared to HCs (ES = -0.79). The magnitude of this effect did not differ from reaction time slowing. Notably, CNV blunting in patients was significantly greater at central sites (ES = -0.87) compared to frontal sites (ES = -0.48). No other assessed methodological characteristics significantly moderated the magnitude of CNV differences. There is a large effect for CNV blunting in SZ that appears robust to potential confounds or methodological moderators. In addition, reduced CNV activity was statistically comparable to that of reaction time slowing. Blunting was the largest at central electrodes, which has been implicated in motor preparation. These findings speak to the complexity of psychomotor dysfunction in SZ and suggest significant promise for a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Kraus
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Phoebe H Lam
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Teresa Vargas
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Vijay A Mittal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Policy Research, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
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18
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Neural indices of orienting, discrimination, and conflict monitoring after contextual fear and safety learning. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 20:917-927. [PMID: 32720204 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00810-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Investigations of fear conditioning have recently begun to evaluate contextual factors that affect attention-related processes. However, much of the extant literature does not evaluate how contextual fear learning influences neural indicators of attentional processes during goal-directed activity. The current study evaluated how early attention for task-relevant stimuli and conflict monitoring were affected when presented within task-irrelevant safety and threat contexts after fear learning. Participants (N = 72) completed a Flanker task with modified context before and after context-dependent fear learning. Flanker stimuli were presented in the same threat and safety contexts utilized in the fear learning task while EEG was collected. Results indicated increased early attention (N1) to flankers appearing in threat contexts and later increased neural indicators (P2) of attention to flankers appearing in safety contexts. Results of this study indicate that contextual fear learning modulates early attentional processes for task-relevant stimuli that appear in the context of safety and threat. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
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19
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Webb CA, Auerbach RP, Bondy E, Stanton CH, Appleman L, Pizzagalli DA. Reward-Related Neural Predictors and Mechanisms of Symptom Change in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Adolescent Girls. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2020; 6:39-49. [PMID: 32948509 PMCID: PMC7796984 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately half of depressed adolescents fail to respond to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Given the variability in response, it is important to identify pretreatment characteristics that predict prognosis. Knowledge of which depressed adolescents are likely to exhibit a positive versus poor outcome to CBT may have important clinical implications (e.g., informing treatment recommendations). Emerging evidence suggests that neural reward responsiveness represents one promising predictor. METHODS Adolescents with major depressive disorder (n = 36) received CBT and completed a reward task at 3 time points (pretreatment, midtreatment and posttreatment) while 128-channel electroencephalographic data were acquired. Healthy control participants (n = 29) completed the same task at 3 corresponding time points. Analyses focused on event-related potentials linked to 2 stages of neural processing: initial response to rewards (reward positivity) and later, elaborative processing (late positive potential). Moreover, time-frequency analyses decomposed the reward positivity into 2 constituent components: reward-related delta and loss-related theta activity. RESULTS Multilevel modeling revealed that greater pretreatment reward responsiveness, as measured by the late positive potential to rewards, predicted greater depressive symptom change. In addition, a group × condition × time interaction emerged for theta activity to losses, reflecting normalization of theta power in the group with major depressive disorder from baseline to posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS An event-related potential measure of sustained (late positive potential)-but not initial (reward positivity)-reward responsiveness predicted symptom improvement, which may help inform which depressed adolescents are most likely to benefit from CBT. In addition to alleviating depression, successful CBT may attenuate underlying neural (theta) hypersensitivity to negative outcomes in depressed youths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A Webb
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
| | - Randy P Auerbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York; Division of Clinical Developmental Neuroscience, Sackler Institute, New York, New York
| | - Erin Bondy
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Colin H Stanton
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Lindsay Appleman
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
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20
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Abstract
Event-related potentials (ERPs) are direct measures of brain activity that can be leveraged for clinically meaningful research. They can relate robustly both to continuous measures of individual difference and to categorical diagnoses in ways that clarify similarities and distinctions between apparently related disorders and traits. ERPs can be linked to genetic risk, can act as moderators of developmental trajectories and responses to stress, and can be leveraged to identify those at greater risk for psychopathology, especially when used in combination with other neural and self-report measures. ERPs can inform models of the development of, and risk for, psychopathology. Finally, ERPs can be used as targets for existing and novel interventions and prevention efforts. We provide concrete examples for each of these possibilities by focusing on programmatic research on the error-related negativity and anxiety, and thus show that ERPs are poised to make greater contributions toward the identification, prediction, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Hajcak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA; .,Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
| | - Julia Klawohn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA; .,Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
| | - Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
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21
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Muir AM, Hedges‐Muncy A, Clawson A, Carbine KA, Larson MJ. Dimensions of anxiety and depression and neurophysiological indicators of error‐monitoring: Relationship with delta and theta oscillatory power and error‐related negativity amplitude. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13595. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ann Clawson
- Department of Neuropsychology Children’s National Hospital Washington DC USA
| | | | - Michael J. Larson
- Department of Psychology Brigham Young University Provo UT USA
- Neuroscience Center Brigham Young University Provo UT USA
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22
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Ruchensky JR, Bauer EA, MacNamara A. Intolerance of uncertainty, depression and the error-related negativity. Int J Psychophysiol 2020; 153:45-52. [PMID: 32330538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Prior work has yielded contradictory findings regarding the association between depression and the error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential thought to reflect individual variation in sensitivity to internal threat (i.e., errors), and the error positivity (Pe), which is thought to reflect more elaborative, conscious processing of errors. One possibility is that variation in transdiagnostic dimensional constructs related to threat processing might help explain inconsistencies in the relationship between depression and the ERN and Pe. Here, we used a large, unselected sample (N = 100) to determine whether variation in intolerance of uncertainty (IU), a transdiagnostic trait dimension that is implicated in both depression and anxiety, might moderate associations between depressive symptomatology and error processing. Results showed that greater levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with larger ΔERNs (error minus correct trials) when IU was low, but were unrelated to ΔERN when IU was high; main effects of depression and IU on ΔERN were not observed. The Pe was not associated with IU or depression. Additionally, IU, but not depression, was associated with faster response times on error and correct trials. Overall, results suggest that error processing may differ for individuals with elevated depression with versus without elevated IU. Moreover, prior failures to observe associations between depression and the ERN might stem from failure to account for related transdiagnostic constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared R Ruchensky
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America.
| | - Elizabeth A Bauer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Annmarie MacNamara
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
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23
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Wang L, Gu Y, Zhao G, Chen A. Error-related negativity and error awareness in a Go/No-go task. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4026. [PMID: 32132619 PMCID: PMC7055303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Error monitoring is crucial for the conscious error perception, however, the role of early error monitoring in error awareness remains unclear. Here, we investigated the relation between the ERN and error-related theta oscillations and the emergence of error awareness by conducting time- and phase-locked averaging analysis based on 4-8 Hz filtered data and phase-locked time frequency analysis. Results showed that while the ERN did not differ significantly between aware and unaware errors, theta power was stronger for aware errors than for unaware errors. Further, when continuous EEG was filtered outside the theta band, the ERN results confirmed this pattern. Additionally, when the non-phase-locked component was removed from continuous EEG, stronger theta power was still observed in aware errors compared to unaware errors. Collectively, these findings may suggest that (1) the ERN emerges from phase-locked component of theta band EEG activities; (2) the ERN engages in conscious error perception and serves the emerging error awareness through the activity of theta oscillations. Thus, early error monitoring is a precursor to error awareness, but this relationship is masked by high-frequency activity in aware errors when the ERN is not filtered outside the theta band in the Go/No-go task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Wang
- Institute of cognition, brain and health, School of Education, HeNan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Yan Gu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guoxiang Zhao
- Faculty of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Antao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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24
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Klawohn J, Santopetro NJ, Meyer A, Hajcak G. Reduced P300 in depression: Evidence from a flanker task and impact on ERN, CRN, and Pe. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13520. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Klawohn
- Department of Psychology Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
| | | | - Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Department of Psychology Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
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25
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Payne AM, Ting LH, Hajcak G. Do sensorimotor perturbations to standing balance elicit an error-related negativity? Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13359. [PMID: 30820966 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Detecting and correcting errors is essential to successful action. Studies on response monitoring have examined scalp ERPs following the commission of motor slips in speeded-response tasks, focusing on a frontocentral negativity (i.e., error-related negativity or ERN). Sensorimotor neurophysiologists investigating cortical monitoring of reactive balance recovery behavior observe a strikingly similar pattern of scalp ERPs following externally imposed postural errors, including a brief frontocentral negativity that has been referred to as the balance N1. We integrate and review relevant literature from these discrepant fields to suggest shared underlying mechanisms and potential benefits of collaboration across fields. Unlike the cognitive tasks leveraged to study the ERN, balance perturbations afford precise experimental control of postural errors to elicit balance N1s that are an order of magnitude larger than the ERN and drive robust and well-characterized adaptation of behavior within an experimental session. Many factors that modulate the ERN, including motivation, perceived consequences, perceptual salience, expectation, development, and aging, are likewise known to modulate the balance N1. We propose that the ERN and balance N1 reflect common neural activity for detecting errors. Collaboration across fields could help clarify the functional significance of the ERN and poorly understood interactions between motor and cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiden M Payne
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lena H Ting
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Departments of Psychology and Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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Theta-Band Functional Connectivity and Single-Trial Cognitive Control in Sports-Related Concussion: Demonstration of Proof-of-Concept for a Potential Biomarker of Concussion. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2019; 25:314-323. [PMID: 30681045 DOI: 10.1017/s135561771800108x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This report examined theta-band neurodynamics for potential biomarkers of brain health in athletes with concussion. METHODS Participants included college-age contact/collision athletes with (N=24) and without a history of concussion (N=16) in Study 1. Study 2 (N=10) examined changes over time in contact/collision athletes. There were two primary dependent variables: (1) theta-band phase-synchronization (e.g., functional connectivity) between medial and right-lateral electrodes; and (2) the within-subject correlation between synchronization strength on error trials and post-error reaction time (i.e., operationalization of cognitive control). RESULTS Head injury history was inversely related with medial-lateral connectivity. Head injury was also related to declines in a neurobehavioral measure of cognitive control (i.e., the single-trial relationship between connectivity and post-error slowing). CONCLUSIONS Results align with a theory of connectivity-mediated cognitive control. Mild injuries undetectable by behavioral measures may still be apparent on direct measures of neural functioning. This report demonstrates that connectivity and cognitive control measures may be useful for tracking recovery from concussion. Theoretically relevant neuroscientific findings in healthy adults may have applications in patient populations, especially with regard to monitoring brain health. (JINS 2019, 25, 314-323).
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27
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Cavanagh JF. Electrophysiology as a theoretical and methodological hub for the neural sciences. Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13314. [PMID: 30556196 PMCID: PMC6687291 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Electrophysiology is a direct measure of neuronal processes, and it is uniquely sensitive to canonical neural operations that underlie emergent psychological operations. These qualities make it well suited for discovery of aberrant neural mechanisms that underlie complicated disease states. This technique is routinely utilized in vitro, in vivo, and in outpatient neurological clinics, offering a translatable bridge between animal models and human patients. The bench-to-bedside potential of this approach is unparalleled, yet it also remains undeveloped due to the slow inertia of legacy techniques and interpretations. In this review, I discuss these strengths of the method, and I detail compelling reasons why future advancements can have a direct and tangible influence over clinical practice. I hope to motivate a blurring of traditional boundaries between preclinical, computational, imaging, and clinical fields by advancing electrophysiology as a common hub for methodological integration and theoretical advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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28
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Cooper PS, Karayanidis F, McKewen M, McLellan-Hall S, Wong ASW, Skippen P, Cavanagh JF. Frontal theta predicts specific cognitive control-induced behavioural changes beyond general reaction time slowing. Neuroimage 2019; 189:130-140. [PMID: 30639331 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations into the neurophysiological underpinnings of control suggest that frontal theta activity is increased with the need for control. However, these studies typically show this link by reporting associations between increased theta and RT slowing - a process that is contemporaneous with cognitive control but does not strictly reflect the specific use of control. In this study, we assessed frontal theta responses that underpinned the switch cost in task switching - a specific index of cognitive control that does not rely exclusively on RT slowing. Here, we utilised a single-trial regression approach to assess 1) how cognitive control demands beyond simple RT slowing were linked to midfrontal theta and 2) whether midfrontal theta effects remained stable over time. In a large cohort that included a longitudinal subsample, we found that midfrontal theta was modulated by switch costs, with enhanced theta power when preparing to switch vs. repeating a task. These effects were reliable after a two-year interval (Cronbach's α.39-0.74). In contrast, we found that trial-by-trial modulations of midfrontal theta power predicted the size of the switch cost - so that switch trials with increased theta produced smaller switch costs. Interestingly, these relationships between theta and behaviour were less stable over time (Cronbach's α 0-0.61), with participants first using both delta and theta bands to influence behaviour whereas after two years only theta associations with behaviour remained. Together, these findings suggest midfrontal theta supports the need for control beyond simple RT slowing and reveal that midfrontal theta effects remain relatively stable over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Cooper
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
| | - Frini Karayanidis
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Montana McKewen
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Samuel McLellan-Hall
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia
| | - Aaron S W Wong
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Patrick Skippen
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
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29
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Cavanagh JF, Bismark AW, Frank MJ, Allen JJB. Multiple Dissociations Between Comorbid Depression and Anxiety on Reward and Punishment Processing: Evidence From Computationally Informed EEG. COMPUTATIONAL PSYCHIATRY (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2019; 3:1-17. [PMID: 31149639 PMCID: PMC6515849 DOI: 10.1162/cpsy_a_00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we provide the first evidence that mood and anxiety dimensions are associated with unique aspects of EEG responses to reward and punishment, respectively. We reanalyzed data from our prior publication of a categorical depiction of depression to address more sophisticated dimensional hypotheses. Highly symptomatic depressed individuals (N = 46) completed a probabilistic learning task with concurrent EEG. Measures of anxiety and depression symptomatology were significantly correlated with each other; however, only anxiety predicted better avoidance learning due to a tighter coupling of negative prediction error signaling with punishment-specific EEG features. In contrast, depression predicted a smaller reward-related EEG feature, but this did not affect prediction error coupling or the ability to learn from reward. We suggest that this reward-related alteration reflects motivational or hedonic aspects of reward and not a diminishment in the ability to represent the information content of reinforcements. These findings compel further research into the domain-specific neural systems underlying dimensional aspects of psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | | | - Michael J Frank
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John J B Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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30
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Bridwell DA, Cavanagh JF, Collins AGE, Nunez MD, Srinivasan R, Stober S, Calhoun VD. Moving Beyond ERP Components: A Selective Review of Approaches to Integrate EEG and Behavior. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:106. [PMID: 29632480 PMCID: PMC5879117 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Relationships between neuroimaging measures and behavior provide important clues about brain function and cognition in healthy and clinical populations. While electroencephalography (EEG) provides a portable, low cost measure of brain dynamics, it has been somewhat underrepresented in the emerging field of model-based inference. We seek to address this gap in this article by highlighting the utility of linking EEG and behavior, with an emphasis on approaches for EEG analysis that move beyond focusing on peaks or “components” derived from averaging EEG responses across trials and subjects (generating the event-related potential, ERP). First, we review methods for deriving features from EEG in order to enhance the signal within single-trials. These methods include filtering based on user-defined features (i.e., frequency decomposition, time-frequency decomposition), filtering based on data-driven properties (i.e., blind source separation, BSS), and generating more abstract representations of data (e.g., using deep learning). We then review cognitive models which extract latent variables from experimental tasks, including the drift diffusion model (DDM) and reinforcement learning (RL) approaches. Next, we discuss ways to access associations among these measures, including statistical models, data-driven joint models and cognitive joint modeling using hierarchical Bayesian models (HBMs). We think that these methodological tools are likely to contribute to theoretical advancements, and will help inform our understandings of brain dynamics that contribute to moment-to-moment cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James F Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Anne G E Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Michael D Nunez
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ramesh Srinivasan
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Sebastian Stober
- Research Focus Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Department of ECE, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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31
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Carlisi CO, Robinson OJ. The role of prefrontal-subcortical circuitry in negative bias in anxiety: Translational, developmental and treatment perspectives. Brain Neurosci Adv 2018; 2:2398212818774223. [PMID: 30167466 PMCID: PMC6097108 DOI: 10.1177/2398212818774223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common cause of mental ill health in the developed world, but our understanding of symptoms and treatments is not presently grounded in knowledge of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. In this review, we discuss accumulating work that points to a role for prefrontal-subcortical brain circuitry in driving a core psychological symptom of anxiety disorders - negative affective bias. Specifically, we point to converging work across humans and animal models, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between dorsal and ventral prefrontal-amygdala circuits in promoting and inhibiting negative bias, respectively. We discuss how the developmental trajectory of these circuits may lead to the onset of anxiety during adolescence and, moreover, how effective pharmacological and psychological treatments may serve to shift the balance of activity within this circuitry to ameliorate negative bias symptoms. Together, these findings may bring us closer to a mechanistic, neurobiological understanding of anxiety disorders and their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina O. Carlisi
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver J. Robinson
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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32
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Cavanagh JF, Napolitano A, Wu C, Mueen A. The Patient Repository for EEG Data + Computational Tools (PRED+CT). Front Neuroinform 2017; 11:67. [PMID: 29209195 PMCID: PMC5702317 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2017.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings are thought to reflect the network-wide operations of canonical neural computations, making them a uniquely insightful measure of brain function. As evidence of these virtues, numerous candidate biomarkers of different psychiatric and neurological diseases have been advanced. Presumably, we would only need to apply powerful machine-learning methods to validate these ideas and provide novel clinical tools. Yet, the reality of this advancement is more complex: the scale of data required for robust and reliable identification of a clinical biomarker transcends the ability of any single laboratory. To surmount this logistical hurdle, collective action and transparent methods are required. Here we introduce the Patient Repository of EEG Data + Computational Tools (PRED+CT: predictsite.com). The ultimate goal of this project is to host a multitude of available tasks, patient datasets, and analytic tools, facilitating large-scale data mining. We hope that successful completion of this aim will lead to the development of novel EEG biomarkers for differentiating populations of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F. Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Arthur Napolitano
- Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christopher Wu
- Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Abdullah Mueen
- Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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