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Comte A, Szymanska M, Monnin J, Moulin T, Nezelof S, Magnin E, Jardri R, Vulliez-Coady L. Neural correlates of distress and comfort in individuals with avoidant, anxious and secure attachment style: an fMRI study. Attach Hum Dev 2024:1-23. [PMID: 39093338 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2024.2384393] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Despite a growing literature, experiments directly related to attachment are still needed. We explored brain processes involved in two aspects of attachment, distress and comfort. Seventy-eight healthy adult males with different attachment styles (secure, avoidant, and anxious) viewed distress, comfort, complicity-joy and neutral images (picture database BAPS-Adult) in an fMRI block design. ROIs from the modules described in the functional Neuro-Anatomical Model of Attachment (Long et al. 2020) were studied. Secure participants used more co- and self-regulation strategies and exhibited a higher activation of the reward network in distress and comfort viewing, than insecure participants. Avoidant participants showed the lower brain activations. Their approach and reward modules were the least activated in distress and comfort. Anxious participants presented both higher activations of the approach and aversion modules during complicity-joy. In addition, comfort and complicity-joy were processed differently according to attachment styles and should be differentiated among positive stimuli to disentangle attachment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Comte
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Plateforme Neuraxess, CIC-1431 INSERM, Besançon, France
| | - Monika Szymanska
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Besançon, France
| | - Julie Monnin
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Besançon, France
| | - Thierry Moulin
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Neurologie, Besançon, France
| | - Sylvie Nezelof
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Besançon, France
| | - Eloi Magnin
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Neurologie, Besançon, France
| | - Renaud Jardri
- University of Lille, Inserm U1172, Centre Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - Lauriane Vulliez-Coady
- Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR 1322 LINC, Besançon, France
- Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Besançon, France
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Orui J, Shiraiwa K, Tazaki F, Inoue T, Ueda M, Ueno K, Naito Y, Ishii R. Psychophysiological and interpersonal effects of parallel group crafting: a multimodal study using EEG and ECG. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17883. [PMID: 39095523 PMCID: PMC11297208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68980-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In occupational therapy, crafts and groups are used as therapeutic tools, but their electrophysiological effects have not been well described. This study aimed to investigate the effects of group crafting on the physiological synchrony (PS) of dyadic heartbeats and on the autonomic activity and electroencephalogram (EEG) of individuals. In this cross-sectional study, individuals' EEG and dyadic electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured during the task in a variety of conditions. The three conditions were alone, parallel, nonparallel. Autonomic activity from the subjects' ECG, PS from the dyadic ECG, and current source density from exact Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA) from subjects' EEG were analyzed. Measurements from 30 healthy young adults showed that the parallel condition significantly increased subjects' parasympathetic activity and dyadic PS. Parallel condition and frontal midline theta influenced parasympathetic activity, whereas parasympathetic activity was not associated with PS. Dyadic lag value were correlated with frontal delta, beta, and gamma activity. The results suggest that crafting in parallel groups increases parasympathetic activity and PS through different mechanisms, despite the absence of direct interaction. They also explain the electrophysiological evidence for the use of crafts and groups in psychiatric occupational therapy, such as increased relaxation and PS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Orui
- Department of Health Science, Osaka Health Science University, 1-9-27 Tenma, Kita-Ku, Osaka, Osaka, 530-0043, Japan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
| | - Keigo Shiraiwa
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, 158 Mizuma, Kaizuka, Osaka, 597-0104, Japan
| | - Fumie Tazaki
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, 158 Mizuma, Kaizuka, Osaka, 597-0104, Japan
| | - Takao Inoue
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
| | - Masaya Ueda
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
| | - Keita Ueno
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuo Naito
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
| | - Ryouhei Ishii
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan.
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, 158 Mizuma, Kaizuka, Osaka, 597-0104, Japan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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Van der Watt ASJ, Du Plessis S, Ahmed F, Roos A, Lesch E, Seedat S. Hippocampus, amygdala, and insula activation in response to romantic relationship dissolution stimuli: A case-case-control fMRI study on emerging adult students. J Affect Disord 2024; 356:604-615. [PMID: 38631423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Romantic relationship dissolutions (RRDs) are associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging in RRD studies indicate overlapping neural activation similar to posttraumatic stress disorder. These studies combine real and hypothetical rejection, and lack contextual information and control and/or comparison groups exposed to non-RRD or DSM-5 defined traumatic events. AIM We investigated blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation in the hippocampus, amygdala, and insula of participants with RRDs compared with other traumatic or non-trauma stressors. METHODS Emerging adults (mean age = 21.54 years; female = 74.7 %) who experienced an RRD (n = 36), DSM-5 defined trauma (physical and/or sexual assault: n = 15), or a non-RRD or DSM-5 stressor (n = 28) completed PTSS, depression, childhood trauma, lifetime trauma exposure, and attachment measures. We used a general and customised version of the International Affective Picture System to investigate responses to index-trauma-related stimuli. We used mixed linear models to assess between-group differences, and ANOVAs and Spearman's correlations to analyse factors associated with BOLD activation. RESULTS BOLD activity increased between index-trauma stimuli as compared to neutral stimuli in the hippocampus and amygdala, with no significant difference between the DSM-5 Trauma and RRD groups. Childhood adversity, sexual orientation, and attachment style were associated with BOLD activation changes. Breakup characteristics (e.g., initiator status) were associated with increased BOLD activation in the hippocampus and amygdala, in the RRD group. CONCLUSION RRDs should be considered as potentially traumatic events. Breakup characteristics are risk factors for experiencing RRDs as traumatic. LIMITATION Future studies should consider more diverse representation across sex, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S J Van der Watt
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
| | - S Du Plessis
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; SAMRC Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - F Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - A Roos
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - E Lesch
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - S Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; SAMRC Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
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Simon JDHP, Schepers SA, van Gorp M, Michiels EMC, Fiocco M, Grootenhuis MA, Tissing WJE. Pain monitoring app leads to less pain in children with cancer at home: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Cancer 2024; 130:2339-2350. [PMID: 37947136 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The authors developed a pain monitoring app offering educational information, and real-time health care professional feedback on clinically significant pain (>4 numeric rating scale [NRS]-11) for children with cancer to reduce pain at home. METHODS This monocenter, nonblinded randomized controlled trial enrolled Dutch children (0-18 years old) receiving cancer treatment (≥3 months after diagnosis, ≥2 months treatment remaining). Children were randomly assigned to use the app or receive usual care (two parallel groups). We assessed whether use of the app yielded less clinically significant pain (aim 1) and whether it affected pain severity, duration, interference, pain management strategies, and parental emotional well-being (aim 2). The app was also evaluated by families (aim 3). RESULTS A total of 94 children were randomized to use the app (15 drop-outs), and 90 were to receive care as usual (11 drop-outs). The app group (n = 79, mean age: 7.5 [5.1] years, 48% girls, 63% hemato-oncology diagnosis) reported significantly less clinically significant pain compared to usual care (n = 79, mean age: 7.5 [5.4] years, 52% girls, 65% hemato-oncology diagnosis) (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.198-0.734]) (aim 1), as well as significantly lower pain severity (β = -0.27; 95% CI, -0.407 to -0.142). No differences were found for duration, interference, or management strategies. Parents in the app group reported significantly less distress compared to usual care (β = -0.84; 95% CI, -1.61 to -0.03]) (aim 2). Families generally evaluated the app positively (aim 3). CONCLUSIONS Use of the app resulted in less clinically significant pain at home. The exact working mechanisms of the app should be further elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D H P Simon
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sasja A Schepers
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marloes van Gorp
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Erna M C Michiels
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Fiocco
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wim J E Tissing
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Stamp GE, Wadley AL, Iacovides S. Could Relationship-Based Learnt Beliefs and Expectations Contribute to Physiological Vulnerability of Chronic Pain? Making a Case to Consider Attachment in Pain Research. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104619. [PMID: 38945383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Pain is an interpersonal and inherently social experience. Pain perception and administration of medical treatment all occur in a particular environmental and social context. Early environmental influences and early learning experiences and interactions condition the body's response to different threats (like pain), ultimately shaping the underlying neurophysiology. These early interactions and experiences also determine what situations are perceived as threatening, as well as our belief in our own ability to self-manage, and our belief in others to offer support, during perceived threats. These beliefs intrinsically drive the combination of behaviors that emerge in response to perceived threats, including pain. Such behaviors can be categorized into attachment styles. In this interdisciplinary review, we synthesize and summarize evidence from the neurobiological, psychobiological, psychosocial, and psychobehavioral fields, to describe how these beliefs are embedded in the brain's prediction models to generate a series of expectations/perceptions around the level of safety/threat in different contexts. As such, these beliefs may predict how one experiences and responds to pain, with potentially significant implications for the development and management of chronic pain. Little attention has been directed to the effect of adult attachment style on pain in research studies and in the clinical setting. Using interdisciplinary evidence, we argue why we think this interaction merits further consideration and research. PERSPECTIVE: This review explores the influence of attachment styles on pain perception, suggesting a link between social connections and chronic pain development. It aligns with recent calls to emphasize the social context in pain research and advocates for increased focus on adult attachment styles in research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Elisabeth Stamp
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Antonia Louise Wadley
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Stella Iacovides
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Kapos FP, Craig KD, Anderson SR, Bernardes SF, Hirsh AT, Karos K, Keogh E, Reynolds Losin EA, McParland JL, Moore DJ, Ashton-James CE. Social Determinants and Consequences of Pain: Toward Multilevel, Intersectional, and Life Course Perspectives. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104608. [PMID: 38897311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Despite wide endorsement of a biopsychosocial framework for pain, social aspects of pain remain rarely addressed in the context of pain prevention and management. In this review, we aim to 1) examine the broad scope of social determinants and consequences of pain and their interactions across multiple levels of organization, and 2) provide a framework synthesizing existing concepts and potential areas for future work on social aspects of pain, drawing upon socioecological, intersectional, and life course approaches. Integrating interdisciplinary theory and evidence, we outline pathways through which multilevel social factors and pain may affect each other over time. We also provide a brief summary of intrapersonal aspects of pain, which are thought to operate at the interface between individuals and the social context. Progressing from micro- to macrolevel factors, we illustrate how social determinants of pain can directly or indirectly contribute to pain experiences, expression, risk, prognosis, and impact across populations. We consider 1) at the interpersonal level, the roles of social comparison, social relatedness, social support, social exclusion, empathy, and interpersonal conflict; 2) at the group or community level, the roles of intimacy groups, task groups, social categories, and loose associations; and 3) at the societal level, the roles of political, economic, and cultural systems, as well as their policies and practices. We present examples of multilevel consequences of pain across these levels and discuss opportunities to reduce the burden and inequities of pain by expanding multilevel social approaches in pain research and practice. PERSPECTIVE: Despite wide endorsement of a biopsychosocial framework for pain, social aspects of pain are often unclearly defined, hindering their use in pain prevention, management, and research. We summarize the scope of social aspects of pain and provide a framework synthesizing existing concepts and potential areas for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia P Kapos
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Schoool of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
| | - Kenneth D Craig
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven R Anderson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Sónia F Bernardes
- Centre for Social Research and Intervention, Iscte-Lisbon University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adam T Hirsh
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Kai Karos
- Experimental Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Edmund Keogh
- Department of Psychology & Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joanna L McParland
- Department of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David J Moore
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Claire E Ashton-James
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Jaltare KP, Manresa JB, Niwa S, Torta DM. Verbal Support From a Stranger Reduces the Development of Mechanical Hypersensitivity: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Evidence. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104599. [PMID: 38866120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Hand-holding reduces experimentally induced acute pain and buffers against the development of mechanical secondary hypersensitivity, an indirect proxy of central sensitization. Here, we tested if verbal support from a stranger, a common occurrence in clinical contexts, exerts the same effects. In this preregistered study, 44 healthy female participants were assigned to an alone or support group whereby a supportive female stranger encouraged them through the painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity. Mechanical hypersensitivity was measured via self-reports and by the size of the anteroposterior and mediolateral spread of mechanical hypersensitivity. We investigated the moderating role of attachment style on self-reports and the effects of support on skin conductance level, salivary cortisol, and pinprick-evoked potentials. We also tested whether theta/beta ratio in the resting-state electroencephalogram predicted mechanical hypersensitivity. Self-reported ratings and the late part of the pinprick-evoked potentials were reduced in the support group, but the spread of mechanical hypersensitivity was not. Attachment anxiety and avoidance moderated the self-reported intensity such that individuals with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance scores reported lower intensity ratings in the support group. No significant effect of the verbal support was observed on skin conductance level and salivary cortisol. The theta/beta ratio did not predict the extent of hypersensitivity. Our data indicate that, in women, verbal support during intense pain leading to hypersensitivity is effective on some behavioral outcomes, but altogether the lack of group differences in cortisol, self-reported stress, and skin conductance does not provide strong support for the stress-buffering hypothesis. PERSPECTIVE: Verbal support by a stranger during a painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity attenuated the development of some measures of mechanical hypersensitivity and associated neural responses in healthy female participants. No evidence was found for the role of stress. DATA AVAILABILITY: The authors will make all data available upon request.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan Prafull Jaltare
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - José Biurrun Manresa
- Institute for Research and Development in Bioengineering and Bioinformatics (IBB-CONICET-UNER), Oro Verde, Argentina
| | - Saya Niwa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Diana M Torta
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Clarici A, Bulfon M, Radin Y, Panksepp J. Neuromodulation of safety and surprise in the early stages of infant development: affective homeostatic regulation in bodily and mental functions. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1395247. [PMID: 38903479 PMCID: PMC11187996 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1395247] [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: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing a sense of internal safety and security depends mainly on others: numerous neuromodulators play a significant role in the homeostatic process, regulating the importance of proximity to a caregiver and experiencing feelings that enable us to regulate our interdependence with our conspecifics since birth. This array of neurofunctional structures have been called the SEPARATION DISTRESS system (now more commonly known as the PANIC/ GRIEF system). This emotional system is mainly involved in the production of depressive symptoms. The disruption of this essential emotional balance leads to the onset of feelings of panic followed by depression. We will focus on the neuropeptides that play a crucial role in social approach behavior in mammals, which enhance prosocial behavior and facilitate the consolidation of social bonds. We propose that most prosocial behaviors are regulated through the specific neuromodulators acting on salient intersubjective stimuli, reflecting an increased sense of inner confidence (safety) in social relationships. This review considers the neurofunctional link between the feelings that may ultimately be at the base of a sense of inner safety and the central neuromodulatory systems. This link may shed light on the clinical implications for the development of early mother-infant bonding and the depressive clinical consequences when this bond is disrupted, such as in post-partum depression, depressive feelings connected to, addiction, neurofunctional disorders, and psychological trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Clarici
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Cattinara Hospital, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Matteo Bulfon
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - Yvonne Radin
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jaak Panksepp
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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9
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Meuleman EM, Karremans JC, van Ee E. Stronger together: the longitudinal relations between partner responsiveness, dyadic coping and PTSD recovery. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2358682. [PMID: 38836379 PMCID: PMC11155418 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2358682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Past research has primarily focused on negative associations between PTSD and relationships. Therefore, this investigation delves into the potential positive role of these relational aspects in aiding PTSD recovery during treatment.Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of dyadic coping and perceived partner responsiveness on treatment trajectories of PTSD patients.Method: The study included 90 participants, who were requested to complete online questionnaires twice, with a six-month gap between the measures.Results: The results from linear regression analyses indicated that perceived partner responsiveness had a positive effect on PTSD recovery, whereas dyadic coping had the opposite effect: higher levels of dyadic coping were associated with an increase in posttraumatic stress symptoms over time. Additional examination of the subscales indicated that heightened communication between clients and partners regarding stress was related with increased posttraumatic stress symptoms.Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance and complexity of effective and supportive communication between patients with PTSD and their partners. While existing literature supports both perceived partner responsiveness and dyadic coping as beneficial, this study indicates that only perceived partner responsiveness positively impacted PTSD recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline M. Meuleman
- Psychotraumacentrum Zuid-Nederland, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
| | - Johan C. Karremans
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elisa van Ee
- Psychotraumacentrum Zuid-Nederland, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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10
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Santaguida E, Bergamasco M. A perspective-based analysis of attachment from prenatal period to second year postnatal life. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1296242. [PMID: 38840732 PMCID: PMC11150629 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1296242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Attachment is one of the foundational themes in the history of the psychological development of human beings. For this reason, we assume that it must be approached by taking into account multiple scientific perspectives. The present review aims at analyzing the state of the art regarding the genetic, neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms underlying the development of attachment bonding, considering the child as the frame of reference. We hypothesize that attachment may be present in prototypical forms even in the prenatal period, thus our analysis has a temporal origin in the intrauterine period preceding birth. The intrauterine period is assumed to be a period of maximum sensitivity to stimuli and in particular to those coming from a potential primary caregiver: the biological mother. We conclude with a reframing of the state of the art and propose that future research work would benefit from a superordinate model of attachment, capable of containing and regulating all its components and variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Santaguida
- Institute of Mechanical Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Abramson L, Callaghan BL, Silvers JA, Choy T, VanTieghem M, Vannucci A, Fields A, Tottenham N. The effects of parental presence on amygdala and mPFC activation during fear conditioning: An exploratory study. Dev Sci 2024:e13505. [PMID: 38549194 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13505] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Learning safe versus dangerous cues is crucial for survival. During development, parents can influence fear learning by buffering their children's stress response and increasing exploration of potentially aversive stimuli. Rodent findings suggest that these behavioral effects are mediated through parental presence modulation of the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Here, we investigated whether similar parental modulation of amygdala and mPFC during fear learning occurs in humans. Using a within-subjects design, behavioral (final N = 48, 6-17 years, mean = 11.61, SD = 2.84, 60% females/40% males) and neuroimaging data (final N = 39, 6-17 years, mean = 12.03, SD = 2.98, 59% females/41% males) were acquired during a classical fear conditioning task, which included a CS+ followed by an aversive noise (US; 75% reinforcement rate) and a CS-. Conditioning occurred once in physical contact with the participant's parent and once alone (order counterbalanced). Region of interest analyses examined the unconditioned stress response by BOLD activation to the US (vs. implicit baseline) and learning by activation to the CS+ (vs. CS-). Results showed that during US presentation, parental presence reduced the centromedial amygdala activity, suggesting buffering of the unconditioned stress response. In response to learned stimuli, parental presence reduced mPFC activity to the CS+ (relative to the CS-), although this result did not survive multiple comparisons' correction. These preliminary findings indicate that parents modulate amygdala and mPFC activity during exposure to unconditioned and conditioned fear stimuli, potentially providing insight into the neural mechanisms by which parents act as a social buffer during fear learning. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: (1)This study used a within-participant experimental design to investigate how parental presence (vs. absence) affects youth's neural responses in a classical fear conditioning task. (2)Parental presence reduced the youth's centromedial amygdala activation to the unconditioned stimulus (US), suggesting parental buffering of the neural unconditioned response (UR). (3)Parental presence reduced the youth's mPFC activation to a conditioned threat cue (CS+) compared to a safety cue (CS-), suggesting possible parental modulation of fear learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lior Abramson
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bridget L Callaghan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer A Silvers
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tricia Choy
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michelle VanTieghem
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anna Vannucci
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea Fields
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nim Tottenham
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA
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12
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Alemany-González M, Wokke ME, Chiba T, Narumi T, Kaneko N, Yokoyama H, Watanabe K, Nakazawa K, Imamizu H, Koizumi A. Fear in action: Fear conditioning and alleviation through body movements. iScience 2024; 27:109099. [PMID: 38414854 PMCID: PMC10897899 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109099] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Fear memories enhance survival especially when the memories guide defensive movements to minimize harm. Accordingly, fear memories and body movements have tight relationships in animals: Fear memory acquisition results in adapting reactive defense movements, while training active defense movements reduces fear memory. However, evidence in humans is scarce because their movements are typically suppressed in experiments. Here, we tracked adult participants' body motions while they underwent ecologically valid fear conditioning in a 3D virtual space. First, with body motion tracking, we revealed that distinct spatiotemporal body movement patterns emerge through fear conditioning. Second, subsequent training to actively avoid threats with naturalistic defensive actions led to a long-term (24 h) reduction of physiological and embodied conditioned responses, while extinction or vicarious training only transiently reduced the responses. Together, our results highlight the role of body movements in human fear memory and its intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martijn E. Wokke
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., Tokyo, Japan
- Centre for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Toshinori Chiba
- The Department of Decoded Neurofeedback, Computational Neuroscience Laboratories, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Kyoto, Japan
- The Department of Psychiatry, Self-Defense Forces Hanshin Hospital, Kawanishi, Japan
- The Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuji Narumi
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naotsugu Kaneko
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hikaru Yokoyama
- Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsumi Watanabe
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimitaka Nakazawa
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Imamizu
- Research Into Artifacts, Center for Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Mechanisms Laboratories, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ai Koizumi
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Schwerdtfeger AR, Rominger C. The cardiac correlates of feeling safe in everyday life: A Bayesian replication study. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 196:112277. [PMID: 38065411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Feeling safe and secure has been proposed to dampen autonomic arousal and buffer threat responses. In a previous study, we could show that momentary ratings of subjective safety were associated with elevated heart rate variability (specifically, root mean square of successive differences; RMSSD) and lower heart rate in everyday life, thus suggesting a health-protective role of feeling safe. METHODS This study aimed to replicate this effect in a sample of N = 79 adults, applying Bayesian statistics with prior effects of the original study. RESULTS Using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) across three days we could replicate the effect of lower heart rate and higher RMSSD in moments when participants felt more safe. In accordance with the original study, we could also show that the effect on heart rate were independent of RMSSD, thus suggesting a contribution of sympathetic activity to this effect. CONCLUSION The findings confirm the connection between momentary feelings of safety and cardiac regulation, thus substantiating research on the health-protective role of psychological safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Rominger
- Institute of Psychology, Universitaetsplatz 2/III, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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14
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Hornstein E, Leschak CJ, Parrish MH, Byrne-Haltom KE, Fanselow MS, Craske MG, Eisenberger NI. Social support and fear-inhibition: an examination of underlying neural mechanisms. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2024; 19:nsae002. [PMID: 38217103 PMCID: PMC10868130 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae002] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent work has demonstrated that reminders of those we are closest to have a unique combination of effects on fear learning and represent a new category of fear inhibitors, termed prepared fear suppressors. Notably, social-support-figure images have been shown to resist becoming associated with fear, suppress conditional-fear-responding and lead to long-term fear reduction. Due to the novelty of this category, understanding the underlying neural mechanisms that support these unique abilities of social-support-reminders has yet to be investigated. Here, we examined the neural correlates that enable social-support-reminders to resist becoming associated with fear during a retardation-of-acquisition test. We found that social-support-figure-images (vs stranger-images) were less readily associated with fear, replicating prior work, and that this effect was associated with decreased amygdala activity and increased ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) activity for social-support-figure-images (vs stranger-images), suggesting that social-support-engagement of the VMPFC and consequent inhibition of the amygdala may contribute to unique their inhibitory effects. Connectivity analyses supported this interpretation, showing greater connectivity between the VMPFC and left amygdala for social-support-figure-images (vs stranger-images).
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Affiliation(s)
- E.A Hornstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - C J Leschak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - M H Parrish
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - K E Byrne-Haltom
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - M S Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - M G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - N I Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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15
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Crosswell AD, Mayer SE, Whitehurst LN, Picard M, Zebarjadian S, Epel ES. Deep rest: An integrative model of how contemplative practices combat stress and enhance the body's restorative capacity. Psychol Rev 2024; 131:247-270. [PMID: 38147050 PMCID: PMC11003855 DOI: 10.1037/rev0000453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Engaging in contemplative practice like meditation, yoga, and prayer, is beneficial for psychological and physical well-being. Recent research has identified several underlying psychological and biological pathways that explain these benefits. However, there is not yet consensus on the underlying overlapping physiological mechanisms of contemplative practice benefits. In this article, we integrate divergent scientific literatures on contemplative practice interventions, stress science, and mitochondrial biology, presenting a unified biopsychosocial model of how contemplative practices reduce stress and promote physical health. We argue that engaging in contemplative practice facilitates a restorative state termed "deep rest," largely through safety signaling, during which energetic resources are directed toward cellular optimization and away from energy-demanding stress states. Our model thus presents a framework for how contemplative practices enhance positive psychological and physiological functioning by optimizing cellular energy consumption. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D. Crosswell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Stefanie E. Mayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | - Martin Picard
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- Department of Neurology, H. Houston Merritt Center, Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
| | | | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
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16
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Jaltare KP, Vanderijst L, Karos K, Torta DM. The impact of the social context on the development of secondary hyperalgesia: an experimental study. Pain 2023; 164:2711-2724. [PMID: 37433188 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Social support has been shown to reduce pain ratings and physiological responses to acute pain stimuli. Furthermore, this relationship is moderated by adult attachment styles. However, these effects have not been characterized in experimentally induced symptoms of chronic pain, such as secondary hyperalgesia (SH) which is characterized by an increased sensitivity of the skin surrounding an injury. We aimed to examine whether social support by handholding from a romantic partner can attenuate the development of experimentally induced SH. Thirty-seven women, along with their partners, participated in 2 experimental sessions 1 week apart. In both sessions, SH was induced using an electrical stimulation protocol. In the support condition, the partner was seated across from the participant holding the participant's hand during the electrical stimulation, whereas in the alone condition, the participant went through the stimulation alone. Heart rate variability was measured for both the participant as well as the partner before, during, and after the stimulation. We found that the width of the area of hyperalgesia was significantly smaller in the support condition. Attachment styles did not moderate this effect of social support on the area width. Increasing attachment avoidance was associated with both a smaller width of hyperalgesia and a smaller increase in the sensitivity on the stimulated arm. For the first time, we show that social support can attenuate the development of secondary hyperalgesia and that attachment avoidance may be associated with an attenuated development of secondary hyperalgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan Prafull Jaltare
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laetitia Vanderijst
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Karos
- Section Experimental Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maaastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Diana M Torta
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
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17
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Bagnis A, Todorov A, Altizio I, Colonnello V, Fanti S, Russo PM, Mattarozzi K. Familiarity From Facial Appearance Leads to Hypoalgesia. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:2040-2051. [PMID: 37356606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Social context has been shown to influence pain perception. This study aimed to broaden this literature by investigating whether relevant social stimuli, such as faces with different levels of intrinsic (based on physical resemblance to known individuals) and episodic (acquired through a previous experience) familiarity, may lead to hypoalgesia. We hypothesized that familiarity, whether intrinsic or acquired through experience, would increase pain threshold and decrease pain intensity. Sixty-seven participants underwent pain induction (the cold pressor test) viewing previously seen faces (Episodic Group) or new faces (Non-episodic Group) that differed in the level of intrinsic familiarity (high vs low). Pain threshold was measured in seconds, while pain intensity was measured on a rating scale of 0 to 10. The results did not show an effect of episodic familiarity. However, compared to low, high intrinsic familiar faces had an attenuating effect on pain intensity, even after controlling for pain expectation. These results suggest that physical features conveying a higher feeling of familiarity induce a top-down hypoalgesic modulation, in line with the idea that familiarity may signal safety and that the presence of familiar others reduce perceived threat-related distress. This study provides further evidence on the social modulation of pain and contributes to the literature on first impressions' influence on social behavior. PERSPECTIVE: Consistent with the idea that familiar others signal safety and reduce the sense of threat, facial features conveying familiarity induce a top-down hypoalgesic modulation. This knowledge may contribute to understanding differences in pain perception in experimental and clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bagnis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alexander Todorov
- Booth School of Business, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ilenia Altizio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Colonnello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Fanti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Maria Russo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Katia Mattarozzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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18
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Pei R, Courtney AL, Ferguson I, Brennan C, Zaki J. A neural signature of social support mitigates negative emotion. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17293. [PMID: 37828064 PMCID: PMC10570303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43273-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Social support can mitigate the impact of distressing events. Such stress buffering elicits activity in many brain regions, but it remains unclear (1) whether this activity constitutes a stable brain signature, and (2) whether brain activity can predict buffering across people. Here, we developed a neural signature that predicted social buffering of negative emotion in response to real life stressors. During neuroimaging, participants (n = 95) responded to stressful autobiographical memories either naturally, or by imagining a conversation with a peer. Using supervised dimensionality reduction and machine learning techniques, we identified a spatio-temporal neural signature that distinguished between these two trials. Activation of this signature was associated with less negative affect across trials, and people who most activated the signature reported more supportive social connections and lower loneliness outside the lab. Together, this work provides a behaviorally relevant neurophysiological marker for social support that underlies stress buffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Pei
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
| | | | - Ian Ferguson
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | | | - Jamil Zaki
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
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19
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Finke JB, Opdensteinen KD, Klucken T, Schächinger H. Close(d) to you? Avoidant attachment is associated with attenuated pupil responsivity to social stimuli. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 192:26-34. [PMID: 37558096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Insecure attachment is thought to impair romantic relationships, presumably also contributing to mental health problems. Previous research has suggested a link to biased automatic processing of social information, potentially reflected in pupil dilation responses. To address this hypothesis, 37 adults were presented with attachment-related, emotional pictures of erotic couples, everyday couples, or interpersonal violence after assessment with the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Considerable variation in self-reported attachment behaviors regarding both attachment anxiety and avoidance was observed in our sample. Overall, pupil dilation was most pronounced during viewing of erotica and violence-related pictures. Relative to nature pictures as control, attachment avoidance was associated with attenuated pupillary responses to social content. However, this was not significant with erotica. For pictures of violence, this avoidant bias was also evident in reduced subjective arousal. In contrast, attachment anxiety was unrelated to differential pupil dilation. Our findings, although preliminary, suggest that previous attachment-related experiences may bias the processing of social stimuli, which in turn may be reflected in altered patterns of pupillary responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes B Finke
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany; Institute of Psychobiology, Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
| | - Kim D Opdensteinen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schächinger
- Institute of Psychobiology, Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
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20
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Mazza A, Ciorli T, Mirlisenna I, D'Onofrio I, Mantellino S, Zaccaria M, Pia L, Dal Monte O. Pain perception and physiological responses are modulated by active support from a romantic partner. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14299. [PMID: 36961121 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
As social animals, humans are strongly affected by social bonds and interpersonal interactions. Proximity and social support from significant others may buffer the negative outcomes of a painful experience. Several studies have investigated the role of romantic partners' support in pain modulation, mostly focusing on tactile support and showing its effectiveness in reducing pain perception. Nevertheless, no study so far has investigated the role of supportive speaking on pain modulation, nor has compared the effects of a tactile and vocal support within the same couples. The present study directly compared for the first time the efficacy of mere presence (Passive Support) and different forms of active (Touch, Voice, Touch + Voice) support from a romantic partner during a painful experience in a naturalistic setting. We assessed pain modulation in 37 romantic couples via both subjective (self-reported ratings) and physiological (skin conductance) measurements. We found that all three types of active support were equally more effective than passive support in reducing the painful experience at both subjective and physiological levels; interestingly, our results suggest that supportive speaking can reduce pain perception with respect to passive support to a similar extent as tactile support does. Overall, this study highlights the relevance of an active support in reducing pain perception, with active types of support being more effective than passive support, regardless of its specific modality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tommaso Ciorli
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Lorenzo Pia
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Olga Dal Monte
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
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21
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He Z, Li S, Mo L, Zheng Z, Li Y, Li H, Zhang D. The VLPFC-Engaged Voluntary Emotion Regulation: Combined TMS-fMRI Evidence for the Neural Circuit of Cognitive Reappraisal. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6046-6060. [PMID: 37507228 PMCID: PMC10451149 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1337-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A clear understanding of the neural circuit underlying emotion regulation (ER) is important for both basic and translational research. However, a lack of evidence based on combined neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques calls into question (1) whether the change of prefrontal-subcortical activity intrinsically and causally contributes to the ER effect; and (2) whether the prefrontal control system directly modulates the subcortical affective system. Accordingly, we combined fMRI recordings with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to map the causal connections between the PFC and subcortical affective structures (amygdala and insula). A total of 117 human adult participants (57 males and 60 females) were included in the study. The results revealed that TMS-induced ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC) facilitation led to enhanced activity in the VLPFC and ventromedial PFC (VMPFC) as well as attenuated activity in the amygdala and insula during reappraisal but not during nonreappraisal (i.e., baseline). Moreover, the activated VLPFC intensified the prefrontal-subcortical couplings via the VMPFC during reappraisal only. This study provides combined TMS-fMRI evidence that downregulating negative emotion involves the prefrontal control system suppressing the subcortical affective system, with the VMPFC serving as a crucial hub within the VLPFC-subcortical network, suggesting an indirect pathway model of the ER circuit. Our findings outline potential protocols for improving ER ability by intensifying the VLPFC-VMPFC coupling in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using fMRI to examine the TMS effect, we uncovered that the opposite neural changes in prefrontal (enhanced) and subcortical (attenuated) regions are not a byproduct of emotion regulation (ER); instead, this prefrontal-subcortical activity per se causally contributes to the ER effect. Furthermore, using TMS to amplify the neural changes within the ER circuit, the "bridge" role of the VMPFC is highlighted under the reappraisal versus nonreappraisal contrast. This "perturb-and-measure" approach overcomes the correlational nature of fMRI data, helping us to identify brain regions that causally support reappraisal (the VLPFC and VMPFC) and those that are modulated by reappraisal (the amygdala and insula). The uncovered ER circuit is important for understanding the neural systems underlying reappraisal and valuable for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhong He
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Sijin Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Licheng Mo
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zixin Zheng
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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22
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Orui J, Shiraiwa K, Tazaki F, Inoue T, Ueda M, Ueno K, Naito Y, Ishii R. Social Buffering Effects during Craft Activities in Parallel Group Session Revealed by EEG Analysis and Parasympathetic Activity. Neuropsychobiology 2023; 82:287-299. [PMID: 37562371 PMCID: PMC10614439 DOI: 10.1159/000531005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The therapeutic structure of occupational therapy (OT) includes groups. Although the presence of others is expected to be relaxing due to the social buffering effect and the tend and befriend theory, it has not been sufficiently validated in accordance with the therapeutic structure of OT. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrophysiological evidence for the effectiveness of parallel groups and states of concentration on craft activities used in OT. METHODS Thirty healthy young adults were used as controls to measure EEG and autonomic activity during craft activities in three conditions: alone, parallel, and nonparallel. EEG was analyzed using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography, and autonomic activity was analyzed using Lorenz plot analysis. RESULTS Parasympathetic activity was significantly higher in the parallel condition than in the alone condition. A significant negative correlation was found between current source density and parasympathetic activity in the region centered on the right insular cortex in the α1 band, and functional connectivity in regions including the anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex was associated with autonomic activity. CONCLUSION Craft activities that occurred during frontal midline theta rhythm also increased parasympathetic activity. The results suggest that the parallel groups used in OT and the intensive state of craft activities induce a social buffering effect that increases parasympathetic activity despite the absence of physical contact or social support. This provides evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic structure of occupational activities and groups in OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Orui
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keigo Shiraiwa
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
| | - Fumie Tazaki
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takao Inoue
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaya Ueda
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keita Ueno
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuo Naito
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryouhei Ishii
- Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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23
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Senba E, Kami K. Exercise therapy for chronic pain: How does exercise change the limbic brain function? NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100143. [PMID: 38099274 PMCID: PMC10719519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
We are exposed to various external and internal threats which might hurt us. The role of taking flexible and appropriate actions against threats is played by "the limbic system" and at the heart of it there is the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens (brain reward system). Pain-related fear causes excessive excitation of amygdala, which in turn causes the suppression of medial prefrontal cortex, leading to chronification of pain. Since the limbic system of chronic pain patients is functionally impaired, they are maladaptive to their situations, unable to take goal-directed behavior and are easily caught by fear-avoidance thinking. We describe the neural mechanisms how exercise activates the brain reward system and enables chronic pain patients to take goal-directed behavior and overcome fear-avoidance thinking. A key to getting out from chronic pain state is to take advantage of the behavioral switching function of the basal nucleus of amygdala. We show that exercise activates positive neurons in this nucleus which project to the nucleus accumbens and promote reward behavior. We also describe fear conditioning and extinction are affected by exercise. In chronic pain patients, the fear response to pain is enhanced and the extinction of fear memories is impaired, so it is difficult to get out of "fear-avoidance thinking". Prolonged avoidance of movement and physical inactivity exacerbate pain and have detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Based on the recent findings on multiple bran networks, we propose a well-balanced exercise prescription considering the adherence and pacing of exercise practice. We conclude that therapies targeting the mesocortico-limbic system, such as exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, may become promising tools in the fight against chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Senba
- Department of Physical Therapy, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, 1-1-41 Sojiji, Ibaraki-City, Osaka 567-0801, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
| | - Katsuya Kami
- Department of Rehabilitation, Wakayama Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, 2252 Nakanoshima, Wakayama City, Wakayama 640-8392, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
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24
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Sahi RS, Eisenberger NI, Silvers JA. Peer facilitation of emotion regulation in adolescence. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 62:101262. [PMID: 37302349 PMCID: PMC10276262 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101262] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion regulation is particularly important for adolescents as they undergo normative developmental changes in affective systems and experience heightened risk for psychopathology. Despite a high need for emotion regulation during adolescence, commonly studied emotion regulation strategies like cognitive reappraisal are less beneficial for adolescents than adults because they rely on neural regions that are still developing during this period (i.e., lateral prefrontal cortex). However, adolescence is also marked by increased valuation of peer relationships and sensitivity to social information and cues. In the present review, we synthesize research examining emotion regulation and peer influence across development to suggest that sensitivity to peers during adolescence could be leveraged to improve emotion regulation for this population. We first discuss developmental trends related to emotion regulation at the level of behavior and brain in adolescents, using cognitive reappraisal as an exemplar emotion regulation strategy. Next, we discuss social influences on adolescent brain development, describing caregiver influence and increasing susceptibility to peer influence, to describe how adolescent sensitivity to social inputs represents both a window of vulnerability and opportunity. Finally, we conclude by describing the promise of social (i.e., peer-based) interventions for enhancing emotion regulation in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razia S Sahi
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Naomi I Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Silvers
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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25
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Ferrara NC, Opendak M. Amygdala circuit transitions supporting developmentally-appropriate social behavior. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 201:107762. [PMID: 37116857 PMCID: PMC10204580 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Social behaviors dynamically change throughout the lifespan alongside the maturation of neural circuits. The basolateral region of the amygdala (BLA), in particular, undergoes substantial maturational changes from birth throughout adolescence that are characterized by changes in excitation, inhibition, and dopaminergic modulation. In this review, we detail the trajectory through which BLA circuits mature and are influenced by dopaminergic systems to guide transitions in social behavior in infancy and adolescence using data from rodents. In early life, social behavior is oriented towards approaching the attachment figure, with minimal BLA involvement. Around weaning age, dopaminergic innervation of the BLA introduces avoidance of novel peers into rat pups' behavioral repertoire. In adolescence, social behavior transitions towards peer-peer interactions with a high incidence of social play-related behaviors. This transition coincides with an increasing role of the BLA in the regulation of social behavior. Adolescent BLA maturation can be characterized by an increasing integration and function of local inhibitory GABAergic circuits and their engagement by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Manipulation of these transitions using viral circuit dissection techniques and early adversity paradigms reveals the sensitivity of this system and its role in producing age-appropriate social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Ferrara
- Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Foundational Sciences and Humanities, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maya Opendak
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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26
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Murty DVPS, Song S, Surampudi SG, Pessoa L. Threat and Reward Imminence Processing in the Human Brain. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2973-2987. [PMID: 36927571 PMCID: PMC10124955 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1778-22.2023] [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: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the human brain, aversive and appetitive processing have been studied with controlled stimuli in rather static settings. In addition, the extent to which aversive-related and appetitive-related processing engage distinct or overlapping circuits remains poorly understood. Here, we sought to investigate the dynamics of aversive and appetitive processing while male and female participants engaged in comparable trials involving threat avoidance or reward seeking. A central goal was to characterize the temporal evolution of responses during periods of threat or reward imminence. For example, in the aversive domain, we predicted that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), but not the amygdala, would exhibit anticipatory responses given the role of the former in anxious apprehension. We also predicted that the periaqueductal gray (PAG) would exhibit threat-proximity responses based on its involvement in proximal-threat processes, and that the ventral striatum would exhibit threat-imminence responses given its role in threat escape in rodents. Overall, we uncovered imminence-related temporally increasing ("ramping") responses in multiple brain regions, including the BST, PAG, and ventral striatum, subcortically, and dorsal anterior insula and anterior midcingulate, cortically. Whereas the ventral striatum generated anticipatory responses in the proximity of reward as expected, it also exhibited threat-related imminence responses. In fact, across multiple brain regions, we observed a main effect of arousal. In other words, we uncovered extensive temporally evolving, imminence-related processing in both the aversive and appetitive domain, suggesting that distributed brain circuits are dynamically engaged during the processing of biologically relevant information regardless of valence, findings further supported by network analysis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the human brain, aversive and appetitive processing have been studied with controlled stimuli in rather static settings. Here, we sought to investigate the dynamics of aversive/appetitive processing while participants engaged in trials involving threat avoidance or reward seeking. A central goal was to characterize the temporal evolution of responses during periods of threat or reward imminence. We uncovered imminence-related temporally increasing ("ramping") responses in multiple brain regions, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, periaqueductal gray, and ventral striatum, subcortically, and dorsal anterior insula and anterior midcingulate, cortically. Overall, we uncovered extensive temporally evolving, imminence-related processing in both the aversive and appetitive domain, suggesting that distributed brain circuits are dynamically engaged during the processing of biologically relevant information regardless of valence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Songtao Song
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | | | - Luiz Pessoa
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
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27
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Sorokowska A, Kowal M, Saluja S, Aavik T, Alm C, Anjum A, Asao K, Batres C, Bensafia A, Bizumic B, Boussena M, Buss DM, Butovskaya M, Can S, Carrier A, Cetinkaya H, Conroy-Beam D, Cueto RM, Czub M, Dural S, Espinosa A, Esteves CS, Frackowiak T, Contreras-Garduño J, Guemaz F, Hromatko I, Iskra H, Jiang F, Kafetsios K, Kavcic T, Kervyn N, Köbis NC, Kostić A, Láng A, Lindholm T, Manesi Z, Meskó N, Misra G, Monaghan C, Natividade JC, Nizharadze G, Oberzaucher E, Oleszkiewicz A, Pagani AF, Pakalniskiene V, Parise M, Pejičić M, Pisanski A, Pisanski K, Popa C, Prokop P, Sargautyte R, Sharad S, Simonetti F, Sorokowski P, Stefanczyk MM, Szagdaj A, Tadinac M, González KU, Uhryn O, Vauclair CM, Yoo G, Zupančič M, Croy I. Love and affectionate touch toward romantic partners all over the world. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5497. [PMID: 37015974 PMCID: PMC10073073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31502-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Touch is the primary way people communicate intimacy in romantic relationships, and affectionate touch behaviors such as stroking, hugging and kissing are universally observed in partnerships all over the world. Here, we explored the association of love and affectionate touch behaviors in romantic partnerships in two studies comprising 7880 participants. In the first study, we used a cross-cultural survey conducted in 37 countries to test whether love was universally associated with affectionate touch behaviors. In the second study, using a more fine-tuned touch behavior scale, we tested whether the frequency of affectionate touch behaviors was related to love in romantic partnerships. As hypothesized, love was significantly and positively associated with affectionate touch behaviors in both studies and this result was replicated regardless of the inclusion of potentially relevant factors as controls. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that affectionate touch is a relatively stable characteristic of human romantic relationships that is robustly and reliably related to the degree of reported love between partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Marta Kowal
- IDN Being Human Lab, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | - Kelly Asao
- Westminster College, Salt Lake City, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Seda Can
- Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | | | | | | | - Marcin Czub
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Seda Dural
- Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | | | - Tomasz Frackowiak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Herak Iskra
- Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | | | - Tina Kavcic
- University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nicolas Kervyn
- Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nils C Köbis
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Zoi Manesi
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kasia Pisanski
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
- CNRS, University of Lyon 2, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Piotr Sorokowski
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Ul. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Anna Szagdaj
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Olga Uhryn
- Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, Lviv, Costa Rica
| | | | | | | | - Ilona Croy
- Institute of Psychology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health, Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
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28
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Camerman E, Scheveneels S, Bosmans G. In safe hands: Attachment figures' safety properties and the link with attachment style. Behav Res Ther 2023; 163:104274. [PMID: 36803742 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
According to the Learning Theory of Attachment, naturalistic learning experiences about others' responsiveness during distress are an underlying mechanism in the development of attachment. Previous studies have demonstrated attachment figures' unique safety-inducing effects in highly controlled conditioning procedures. Yet, neither have studies examined the presumed influence of safety learning on state attachment, nor have they examined how attachment figures' safety-inducing effects relate to attachment styles. To address these gaps, a differential fear conditioning paradigm was used in which pictures of participants' attachment figure and two control stimuli served as safety cues (CS-). US-expectancy and distress ratings were measured as indicators of fear responding. Results indicate that attachment figures evoked enhanced safety responding compared to control safety cues at the start of acquisition, which was maintained throughout acquisition and when presented together with a danger cue. Attachment figures' safety-inducing effects were reduced in individuals with higher attachment avoidance, although attachment style did not affect the rate of new safety learning. Finally, safe experiences with the attachment figure in the fear conditioning procedure resulted in diminished anxious state attachment. Adding to previous work, these findings underscore the importance of learning processes for attachment development and attachment figures' provision of safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Camerman
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sara Scheveneels
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Bosmans
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Anderson SR, Gianola M, Medina NA, Perry JM, Wager TD, Losin EAR. Doctor trustworthiness influences pain and its neural correlates in virtual medical interactions. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:3421-3436. [PMID: 36001114 PMCID: PMC10068271 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trust is an important component of the doctor-patient relationship and is associated with improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Previously, we reported that patient feelings of trust and similarity toward their clinician predicted reductions in evoked pain in response to painful heat stimulations. In the present study, we investigated the brain mechanisms underlying this effect. We used face stimuli previously developed using a data-driven computational modeling approach that differ in perceived trustworthiness and superimposed them on bodies dressed in doctors' attire. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants (n = 42) underwent a series of virtual medical interactions with these doctors during which they received painful heat stimulation as an analogue of a painful diagnostic procedure. Participants reported increased pain when receiving painful heat stimulations from low-trust doctors, which was accompanied by increased activity in pain-related brain regions and a multivariate pain-predictive neuromarker. Findings suggest that patient trust in their doctor may have tangible impacts on pain and point to a potential brain basis for trust-related reductions in pain through the modulation of brain circuitry associated with the sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational dimensions of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Anderson
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA
| | - Morgan Gianola
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA
| | - Natalia A Medina
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA
| | - Jenna M Perry
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, 3 Maynard St, Hanover, NH 03755-3565, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Reynolds Losin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA
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30
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McParlin Z, Cerritelli F, Manzotti A, Friston KJ, Esteves JE. Therapeutic touch and therapeutic alliance in pediatric care and neonatology: An active inference framework. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:961075. [PMID: 36923275 PMCID: PMC10009260 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.961075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic affective touch has been recognized as essential for survival, nurturing supportive interpersonal interactions, accelerating recovery-including reducing hospitalisations, and promoting overall health and building robust therapeutic alliances. Through the lens of active inference, we present an integrative model, combining therapeutic touch and communication, to achieve biobehavioural synchrony. This model speaks to how the brain develops a generative model required for recovery, developing successful therapeutic alliances, and regulating allostasis within paediatric manual therapy. We apply active inference to explain the neurophysiological and behavioural mechanisms that underwrite the development and maintenance of synchronous relationships through touch. This paper foregrounds the crucial role of therapeutic touch in developing a solid therapeutic alliance, the clinical effectiveness of paediatric care, and triadic synchrony between health care practitioner, caregiver, and infant in a variety of clinical situations. We start by providing a brief overview of the significance and clinical role of touch in the development of social interactions in infants; facilitating a positive therapeutic alliance and restoring homeostasis through touch to allow a more efficient process of allostatic regulation. Moreover, we explain the role of CT tactile afferents in achieving positive clinical outcomes and updating prior beliefs. We then discuss how touch is implemented in treatment sessions to promote cooperative interactions in the clinic and facilitate theory of mind. This underwrites biobehavioural synchrony, epistemic trust, empathy, and the resolution of uncertainty. The ensuing framework is underpinned by a critical application of the active inference framework to the fields of pediatrics and neonatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe McParlin
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
| | - Francesco Cerritelli
- Division of Neonatology, “V. Buzzi” Children's Hospital, ASST-FBF-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Manzotti
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
- Division of Neonatology, “V. Buzzi” Children's Hospital, ASST-FBF-Sacco, Milan, Italy
- Research Department, SOMA, Istituto Osteopatia Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Karl J Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge E Esteves
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
- Malta ICOM Educational, Malta, Finland
- Research Department, University College of Osteopathy, Research Department, London, United Kingdom
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31
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Slavich GM, Mengelkoch S, Cole SW. Human social genomics: Concepts, mechanisms, and implications for health. LIFESTYLE MEDICINE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/lim2.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Summer Mengelkoch
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Steven W. Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USA
- Department of Medicine University of California Los Angeles California USA
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32
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Morato C, Guerra P, Bublatzky F. A partner's smile is not per se a safety signal: Psychophysiological response patterns to instructed threat and safety. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14273. [PMID: 36812132 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies on fear conditioning and pain perception suggest that pictures of loved ones (e.g., a romantic partner) may serve as a prepared safety cue that is less likely to signal aversive events. Challenging this view, we examined whether pictures of smiling or angry loved ones are better safety or threat cues. To this end, 47 healthy participants were verbally instructed that specific facial expressions (e.g., happy faces) cue threat of electric shocks and others cue safety (e.g., angry faces). When facial images served as threat cues, they elicited distinct psychophysiological defensive responses (e.g., increased threat ratings, startle reflex, and skin conductance responses) compared to viewing safety cues. Interestingly, instructed threat effects occurred regardless of the person who cued shock threat (partner vs. unknown) and their facial expression (happy vs. angry). Taken together, these results demonstrate the flexible nature of facial information (i.e., facial expression and facial identity) to be easily learned as signals for threat or safety, even when showing loved ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Morato
- Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Pedro Guerra
- Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Florian Bublatzky
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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33
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Bryant RA. Attachment processes in posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of mechanisms to advance theories and treatments. Clin Psychol Rev 2023; 99:102228. [PMID: 36493729 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102228] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Current conceptualisations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are driven by biological, learning, and cognitive models that have shaped current treatments of the disorder. The strong influence of these models has resulted in a relative neglect of social mechanisms that can influence traumatic stress. There is abundant evidence from experimental, observational, and clinical studies that social factors can moderate many of the mechanisms articulated in prevailing models of PTSD. In this review it is proposed that attachment theory provides a useful framework to complement existing models of PTSD because it provides explanatory value for social factors can interact with biological, learning, and cognitive processes that shape traumatic stress response. The review provides an overview of attachment theory in the context of traumatic stress, outlines the evidence for how attachment factors can moderate stress responses and PTSD, and considers how harnessing attachment processes may augment recovery from and treatment of PTSD. This review emphasizes that rather than conceptualizing attachment theory as an independent theory of traumatic stress, there is much to gain by integrating attachment mechanisms into existing models of PTSD to accommodate the interactions between cognitive, biological, and attachment processes.
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34
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Dutcher JM. Brain Reward Circuits Promote Stress Resilience and Health: Implications for Reward-Based Interventions. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 32:65-72. [PMID: 37234195 PMCID: PMC10211312 DOI: 10.1177/09637214221121770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
From the COVID-19 global pandemic to racial injustice and the continued impact of climate change on communities across the globe, the last couple of years have demonstrated the need for a greater understanding of how to protect people from the negative consequences of stress. Here, I outline a perspective on how the brain's reward system might be an important, but often understudied, protective mechanism for stress resilience and stress-related health outcomes. I describe work suggesting that reward system engagement inhibits the stress response and is associated with improved health outcomes including reduced depressive symptomatology and slowed cancer progression. I then highlight important future directions for translational research and illustrate the value of this perspective for improving behavioral interventions in clinical psychology and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine M Dutcher
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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35
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Murty DVPS, Song S, Surampudi SG, Pessoa L. Threat and reward imminence processing in the human brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524987. [PMID: 36711746 PMCID: PMC9882302 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In the human brain, aversive and appetitive processing have been studied with controlled stimuli in rather static settings. In addition, the extent to which aversive- and appetitive-related processing engage distinct or overlapping circuits remains poorly understood. Here, we sought to investigate the dynamics of aversive and appetitive processing while male and female participants engaged in comparable trials involving threat-avoidance or reward-seeking. A central goal was to characterize the temporal evolution of responses during periods of threat or reward imminence . For example, in the aversive domain, we predicted that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), but not the amygdala, would exhibit anticipatory responses given the role of the former in anxious apprehension. We also predicted that the periaqueductal gray (PAG) would exhibit threat-proximity responses based on its involvement in proximal-threat processes, and that the ventral striatum would exhibit threat-imminence responses given its role in threat escape in rodents. Overall, we uncovered imminence-related temporally increasing ("ramping") responses in multiple brain regions, including the BST, PAG, and ventral striatum, subcortically, and dorsal anterior insula and anterior midcingulate, cortically. Whereas the ventral striatum generated anticipatory responses in the proximity of reward as expected, it also exhibited threat-related imminence responses. In fact, across multiple brain regions, we observed a main effect of arousal. In other words, we uncovered extensive temporally-evolving, imminence-related processing in both the aversive and appetitive domain, suggesting that distributed brain circuits are dynamically engaged during the processing of biologically relevant information irrespective of valence, findings further supported by network analysis. Significance Statement In the human brain, aversive and appetitive processing have been studied with controlled stimuli in rather static settings. Here, we sought to investigate the dynamics of aversive/appetitive processing while participants engaged in trials involving threat-avoidance or reward-seeking. A central goal was to characterize the temporal evolution of responses during periods of threat or reward imminence . We uncovered imminence-related temporally increasing ("ramping") responses in multiple brain regions, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, periaqueductal gray, and ventral striatum, subcortically, and dorsal anterior insula and anterior midcingulate, cortically. Overall, we uncovered extensive temporally-evolving, imminence-related processing in both the aversive and appetitive domain, suggesting that distributed brain circuits are dynamically engaged during the processing of biologically relevant information irrespective of valence.
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Bedrov A, Gable SL. Thriving together: the benefits of women's social ties for physical, psychological and relationship health. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210441. [PMID: 36440568 PMCID: PMC9703221 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between social support and well-being is well established in social psychology, with evidence suggesting that these benefits are especially prominent among women. When faced with an environmental stressor, women are more likely to adopt a tend-and-befriend strategy rather than fight-or-flight. Furthermore, female friendships tend to be higher in self-disclosure and more frequently relied on for social support, which is associated with physical and psychological benefits. Women are also more effective at providing social support, further augmenting those benefits. We begin with an overview of the characteristics of women's social ties and how they can be especially useful in times of stress. We then transition to the benefits of female social networks even in the absence of negative events and incorporate research from health and social psychology to consider the positive implications of having strong social bonds and the negative implications of lacking such bonds. Additionally, we consider cross-cultural differences in tendencies to seek out social support and its subsequent benefits, as well as the need for more research with culturally diverse samples. It remains unclear the extent to which patterns of social support benefits for women vary cross-culturally. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Bedrov
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Shelly L. Gable
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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Zhang K, Sun J, Zhang Q, Zhang J, He L, Wang Z, Hu L. The association between childhood trauma and pain symptoms in depressed adults: The moderating role of anxious attachment. Clin Psychol Psychother 2023. [PMID: 36630316 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2824] [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: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies have previously demonstrated that anxious attachment shapes the association between childhood traumatic experiences and somatic pain; however, it remains unclear how this relationship is influenced by anxious attachment in patients with depression. This study investigated how anxious attachment influences the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and pain symptoms in depressed patients from a social psychological perspective. A total of 139 adult patients with depression participated in this study; the level of depression was assessed by a psychiatric professional. Childhood trauma, pain symptoms, and attachment dimensions were tested by various questionnaires. The moderating role of anxious attachment in the trauma-pain association was examined using the PROCESS Model 1. Our findings showed that in depressed patients, childhood maltreatment had a significant positive impact on the severity of pain ratings. Moreover, anxious attachment influenced the relationship between childhood trauma and pain symptoms. Our study indicated that anxious attachment is not necessarily a negative outcome for depressed patients; moderate levels of anxious attachment alleviate childhood trauma-related pain symptoms in individuals with highly traumatic experiences. Understanding the traumatic experiences and attachment styles of depressed patients with pain complaints can help to develop intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Psychology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Junyuan Sun
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qunlei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Long He
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ziyang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Xie X, Bertram T, Zorjan S, Horvat M, Sorg C, Mulej Bratec S. Social reappraisal of emotions is linked with the social presence effect in the default mode network. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1128916. [PMID: 37032933 PMCID: PMC10076786 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1128916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social reappraisal, during which one person deliberately tries to regulate another's emotions, is a powerful cognitive form of social emotion regulation, crucial for both daily life and psychotherapy. The neural underpinnings of social reappraisal include activity in the default mode network (DMN), but it is unclear how social processes influence the DMN and thereby social reappraisal functioning. We tested whether the mere presence of a supportive social regulator had an effect on the DMN during rest, and whether this effect in the DMN was linked with social reappraisal-related neural activations and effectiveness during negative emotions. Methods A two-part fMRI experiment was performed, with a psychotherapist as the social regulator, involving two resting state (social, non-social) and two task-related (social reappraisal, social no-reappraisal) conditions. Results The psychotherapist's presence enhanced intrinsic functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) within the anterior medial DMN, with the effect positively related to participants' trust in psychotherapists. Secondly, the social presence-induced change in the dACC was related with (a) the social reappraisal-related activation in the bilateral dorsomedial/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the right temporoparietal junction and (b) social reappraisal success, with the latter relationship moderated by trust in psychotherapists. Conclusion Results demonstrate that a psychotherapist's supportive presence can change anterior medial DMN's intrinsic connectivity even in the absence of stimuli and that this DMN change during rest is linked with social reappraisal functioning during negative emotions. Data suggest that trust-dependent social presence effects on DMN states are relevant for social reappraisal-an idea important for daily-life and psychotherapy-related emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyao Xie
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Teresa Bertram
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Saša Zorjan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marina Horvat
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Christian Sorg
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Satja Mulej Bratec
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Satja Mulej Bratec,
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Nees F, Usai K, Kandić M, Zidda F, Heukamp NJ, Moliadze V, Löffler M, Flor H. The association of spouse interactions and emotional learning in interference related to chronic back pain. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 13:100122. [PMID: 36910586 PMCID: PMC9996357 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions affect individual behaviours, preferences, and attitudes. This is also critical in the context of experiencing pain and expressing pain behaviours, and may relate to learned emotional responses. In this respect, individual variability in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which is involved in adjusting an organism's behaviour to its environment by evaluating and interpreting information within the context of past experiences, is important. It is critical for selecting suitable behavioural responses within a social environment and may reinforce maladaptation in chronic pain. In our study, we used brain imaging during appetitive and aversive pavlovian conditioning in persons with chronic back pain (CBP), subacute back pain (SABP), and healthy controls (HC), together with information on spouse responses to pain behaviours. We also examined the relationship of these responses with pain-related interference in the patients. Our findings yielded a significant negative association between mPFC responses to appetitive and aversive learning in CBP. We also observed a significant negative association for mPFC responses during aversive learning and distracting spouse responses, and a significant positive association between mPFC responses during appetitive learning and solicitous spouse responses in CBP. Both significantly predicted pain-related interference in the CBP group (explained variance up to 53%). Significant associations were not found for SABP or HC. Our findings support an association between appetitive and aversive pavlovian learning, related brain circuits and spouse responses to pain in CBP, where appetitive and aversive learning processes seem to be differentially involved. This can inform prevention and early intervention in a mechanistic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katrin Usai
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mina Kandić
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Francesca Zidda
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nils Jannik Heukamp
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Vera Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Martin Löffler
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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40
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Jolink TA, Way BM, Younge A, Oveis C, Algoe SB. Everyday co-presence with a romantic partner is associated with lower C-reactive protein. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:132-139. [PMID: 36126852 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social relationships are an important driver of health, and inflammation has been proposed as a key neurobiological mechanism to explain this effect. Behavioral researchers have focused on social relationship quality to further explain the association, yet recent research indicates that relationship quality may not be as robust a predictor as previously thought. Here, building on animal models of social bonds and recent theory on close relationships, we instead investigated merely being in the physical presence of one's romantic partner. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that spending more time co-present with a loved partner in everyday life would be associated with lower C-reactive protein (CRP). Three times over the course of one month, 100 people in romantic relationships reported how much time they spent in the same physical space as their partner in the prior 24 h, in minutes, and provided a sample of blood for CRP assay (n observations = 296). Results from multi-level models showed that when one reported spending more time in the physical presence of their partner they had lower CRP - an effect that was independent from social relationship quality explanations from the prior literature, including romantic relationship quality, hostility, and loneliness. These findings move past global assessments of social isolation to consider a novel everyday behavior that is of great interest in the non-human animal literature - spending time together -- as a potential mechanism linking high-quality relationships and physical health in adult humans. The findings also point to future research on additional behavioral mechanisms that are not dependent on stress pathways: people in high-quality relationships tend to spend enjoyable and affectionate time with one another, which may impact inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatum A Jolink
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Baldwin M Way
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ayana Younge
- Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Christopher Oveis
- Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sara B Algoe
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Pinto AM, Geenen R, Wager TD, Lumley MA, Häuser W, Kosek E, Ablin JN, Amris K, Branco J, Buskila D, Castelhano J, Castelo-Branco M, Crofford LJ, Fitzcharles MA, López-Solà M, Luís M, Marques TR, Mease PJ, Palavra F, Rhudy JL, Uddin LQ, Castilho P, Jacobs JWG, da Silva JAP. Emotion regulation and the salience network: a hypothetical integrative model of fibromyalgia. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:44-60. [PMID: 36471023 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-022-00873-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and other symptoms, and has a substantial socioeconomic impact. Current biomedical and psychosocial treatments are unsatisfactory for many patients, and treatment progress has been hindered by the lack of a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. We present here a model of fibromyalgia that integrates current psychosocial and neurophysiological observations. We propose that an imbalance in emotion regulation, reflected by an overactive 'threat' system and underactive 'soothing' system, might keep the 'salience network' (also known as the midcingulo-insular network) in continuous alert mode, and this hyperactivation, in conjunction with other mechanisms, contributes to fibromyalgia. This proposed integrative model, which we term the Fibromyalgia: Imbalance of Threat and Soothing Systems (FITSS) model, should be viewed as a working hypothesis with limited supporting evidence available. We hope, however, that this model will shed new light on existing psychosocial and biological observations, and inspire future research to address the many gaps in our knowledge about fibromyalgia, ultimately stimulating the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Pinto
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, University Clinic of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Psychological Medicine Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rinie Geenen
- Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Altrecht Psychosomatic Medicine Eikenboom, Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Mark A Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Winfried Häuser
- Department Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eva Kosek
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacob N Ablin
- Internal Medicine H, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - Kirstine Amris
- The Parker Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jaime Branco
- Rheumatology Department, Egas Moniz Hospital - Lisboa Ocidental Hospital Centre (CHLO-EPE), Lisbon, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Chronic Diseases Research Centre (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University Lisbon (NMS/UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dan Buskila
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheba, Beersheba, Israel
| | - João Castelhano
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), ICNAS, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), ICNAS, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Leslie J Crofford
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary-Ann Fitzcharles
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marina López-Solà
- Serra Hunter Programme, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariana Luís
- Rheumatology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Mease
- Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Filipe Palavra
- Centre for Child Development, Neuropediatric Unit, Paediatric Hospital, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (i.CBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jamie L Rhudy
- Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Paula Castilho
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Johannes W G Jacobs
- Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - José A P da Silva
- University of Coimbra, University Clinic of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Rheumatology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (i.CBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Rajkumar RP. Comorbid depression and anxiety: Integration of insights from attachment theory and cognitive neuroscience, and their implications for research and treatment. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1104928. [PMID: 36620859 PMCID: PMC9811005 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1104928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Banford Witting A, Busby DM, Rellaford SR. Longitudinal anxiety in couples during a global pandemic: Considering loss, attachment behaviors, and trauma coping self-efficacy. FAMILY PROCESS 2022; 61:1489-1506. [PMID: 34939188 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) pandemic has had a significant impact on multiple domains of daily functioning in communities, families, and couples. Research on couple dynamics amid mass stress events using dyadic data is still limited. As such, the current study employed a cross-lagged panel design with 535 cisgender, heterosexual couples to explore longitudinal paths between pandemic-related loss, attachment behaviors, trauma coping self-efficacy, and anxiety symptoms. Data were collected at three time points between April and October 2020. The findings demonstrated the potentially mobilizing nature of loss. Higher levels of loss associated with higher levels of attachment behaviors in partners later and higher levels of trauma coping self-efficacy for men in a partner effect at one lag. Higher levels of attachment behaviors generally associated with improved trauma coping self-efficacy at the next wave within and across partners, and higher levels of trauma coping self-efficacy appeared to offset later anxiety within partners. On the other hand, within partners, greater loss is associated with lower levels of attachment behaviors within partners across time. Furthermore, higher anxiety is associated with lower levels of TCSE and higher levels of loss within partners across most lags. Finally, higher trauma coping self-efficacy is associated with less loss within men at one lag, and greater loss within men at the later lag, which may demonstrate stress and efforts to mobilize to meet it. Indirect effects were found implying the intermediary nature of anxiety and trauma coping self-efficacy in explaining wave 3 anxiety. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.
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Pechtel P, Belleau EL, Kaiser RH, Whitton AE, Beltzer M, Clegg R, Goer F, Vitaliano G, Teicher MH, Pizzagalli DA. Stress and reward: A multimodal assessment of childhood sexual abuse. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100498. [PMID: 36532372 PMCID: PMC9755059 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood adversity has been found to impact stress and brain reward systems but it is unclear whether interactions between these systems might explain resilient vs. non-resilient trajectories following childhood sexual abuse (CSA). To address this gap, we adopted a multimodal approach in which cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor was assessed in conjunction with behavioral and neural measures of reward responsiveness in females with major depressive disorder (MDD) or no psychiatric disorders (i.e., resilient) who experienced CSA compared to females with and without MDD who did not experience abuse. Methods Latent Class Mixed Modelling (LCMM) identified classes of adults (n = 62; MAge = 26.48, SD = 5.68) characterized by distinct cortisol trajectories in response to a combined social evaluative cold pressor task. Classes were examined for their history of CSA and resilience as well as behavioral and neural measures of reward responsiveness using 128-channel electroencephalography (event-related potentials and source localization analysis). Results LCMM analysis identified two distinct classes of individuals with increased (Responders) or blunted (Non-Responders) cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor. Unlike Responders, Non-Responders did not modulate reward responses throughout the stress manipulation. No differences emerged between Responders and Non-Responders in terms of CSA or resilience. However, exploratory results showed that blunted cortisol response and non-modulation of reward responses emerged for those who experienced CSA at a younger age. Conclusions Co-occurring blunted stress and reward reactivity emerged irrespective of adults' experience of CSA or resilience. However, preliminary findings showed that CSA ending during peripubertal development was associated with blunted cortisol and reward responsiveness. Future research needs to replicate findings in larger samples and could investigate if increasing reward responsiveness during critical times of neurodevelopment could normalize stress reactivity to future stressors and thus promote resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Pechtel
- University of Exeter, Department of Psychology, Exeter, UK
| | - Emily L. Belleau
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Roselinde H. Kaiser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
| | - Alexis E. Whitton
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Miranda Beltzer
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
| | - Rachel Clegg
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
| | - Franziska Goer
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
| | - Gordana Vitaliano
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Diego A. Pizzagalli
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
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Nees F, Ditzen B, Flor H. When shared pain is not half the pain: enhanced central nervous system processing and verbal reports of pain in the presence of a solicitous spouse. Pain 2022; 163:e1006-e1012. [PMID: 35027517 PMCID: PMC9393802 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The experience of pain and pain behaviors is not only determined by physiological but also psychosocial factors. In this context, the learning history of the individual and specifically operant reinforcement related to spouse responses might play an important role. We investigated the effect of a solicitous and habitually pain-reinforcing spouse for the processing of pain in patients with chronic pain. Using multichannel electroencephalography, pain behaviors, and self-reports of pain, we examined 20 patients with chronic back pain (10 with solicitous and 10 with nonsolicitous spouses) and 10 matched healthy controls. The participants received a series of painful and nonpainful electrical stimuli applied to the site of pain (back) and a control area (finger) in the presence vs absence of the spouse. The global field power of the electroencephalogram with a focus in the frontal region was enhanced in patients with chronic back pain who had a solicitous spouse compared to those with a nonsolicitous spouse and the healthy controls. This was specific for the painful stimulation at the back and occurred only in the presence but not the absence of the spouse. Pain ratings of intensity and unpleasantness were also higher in the patients with solicitous spouses when the spouse was present during painful stimulation. These data suggest that significant other responses indicative of operant reinforcement may have a direct effect on the cerebral processing of pain and related pain perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Nees
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig–Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Beate Ditzen
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Sharvit G, Schweinhardt P. The influence of social signals on the self-experience of pain: A neuroimaging review. Front Neurol 2022; 13:856874. [PMID: 36090868 PMCID: PMC9459049 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.856874] [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: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers in cognitive neuroscience have investigated extensively how psychological factors shape the processing and perception of pain using behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging methods. However, social influences of pain, an essential part of biopsychosocial pain models, have received relatively little attention. This is particularly true for the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social modulations on pain. Therefore, this review discusses the findings of recent neuroimaging studies measuring the effects of social manipulations on pain perception (e.g., verbal and non-verbal social signals, social interaction style, conformity, social support, and sociocultural mediators). Finally, a schematic summary of the different social modulatory themes is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Sharvit
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Gil Sharvit
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
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47
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Packard K, Opendak M. Rodent models of early adversity: Impacts on developing social behavior circuitry and clinical implications. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:918862. [PMID: 35990728 PMCID: PMC9385963 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.918862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flexible and context-appropriate social functioning is key for survival across species. This flexibility also renders social behavior highly plastic, particularly during early development when attachment to caregiver can provide a template for future social processing. As a result, early caregiving adversity can have unique and lasting impacts on social behavior and even confer vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. However, the neural circuit mechanisms translating experience to outcome remain poorly understood. Here, we consider social behavior scaffolding through the lens of reward and threat processing. We begin by surveying several complementary rodent models of early adversity, which together have highlighted impacts on neural circuits processing social cues. We next explore these circuits underlying perturbed social functioning with focus on dopamine (DA) and its role in regions implicated in social and threat processing such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the lateral habenula (LHb). Finally, we turn to human populations once more to examine how altered DA signaling and LHb dysfunction may play a role in social anhedonia, a common feature in diagnoses such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). We argue that this translational focus is critical for identifying specific features of adversity that confer heightened vulnerability for clinical outcomes involving social cue processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Packard
- Department of Neuroscience, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maya Opendak
- Department of Neuroscience, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Maya Opendak
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48
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McParlin Z, Cerritelli F, Rossettini G, Friston KJ, Esteves JE. Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Biobehavioural Synchrony in Musculoskeletal Care. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:897247. [PMID: 35846789 PMCID: PMC9280207 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.897247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch is recognised as crucial for survival, fostering cooperative communication, accelerating recovery, reducing hospital stays, and promoting overall wellness and the therapeutic alliance. In this hypothesis and theory paper, we present an entwined model that combines touch for alignment and active inference to explain how the brain develops "priors" necessary for the health care provider to engage with the patient effectively. We appeal to active inference to explain the empirically integrative neurophysiological and behavioural mechanisms that underwrite synchronous relationships through touch. Specifically, we offer a formal framework for understanding - and explaining - the role of therapeutic touch and hands-on care in developing a therapeutic alliance and synchrony between health care providers and their patients in musculoskeletal care. We first review the crucial importance of therapeutic touch and its clinical role in facilitating the formation of a solid therapeutic alliance and in regulating allostasis. We then consider how touch is used clinically - to promote cooperative communication, demonstrate empathy, overcome uncertainty, and infer the mental states of others - through the lens of active inference. We conclude that touch plays a crucial role in achieving successful clinical outcomes and adapting previous priors to create intertwined beliefs. The ensuing framework may help healthcare providers in the field of musculoskeletal care to use hands-on care to strengthen the therapeutic alliance, minimise prediction errors (a.k.a., free energy), and thereby promote recovery from physical and psychological impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe McParlin
- Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Foundation COME Collaboration, Pescara, Italy
| | - Francesco Cerritelli
- Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Foundation COME Collaboration, Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Karl J. Friston
- Institute of Neurology, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge E. Esteves
- Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Foundation COME Collaboration, Pescara, Italy
- Malta ICOM Educational, Gzira, Malta
- University College of Osteopathy, London, United Kingdom
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49
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Wang B, Peng X, Gao F, Zhang K, Zhang J, Wu L. Attachment Security Priming Delayed Negative Information-Related Attentional Disengagement Among Anxiously Attached Individuals: Evidence From Behavioral and Functional MRI Experiments. Front Psychol 2022; 13:913805. [PMID: 35756230 PMCID: PMC9218902 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.913805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although attachment security has been found to attenuate people’s experience of unpleasant information, how it modulates the attentional process toward such information remains unknown. The present study examined this issue by employing the dot-probe task in functional MRI. After completing the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R), 39 participants were asked to complete the dot-probe task in two conditions: the attachment security priming condition and neutral priming condition. The behavioral results revealed that individuals with high level of attachment anxiety exhibited larger attention disengagement from negative traits in the security priming condition than in the control condition. Correspondingly, the brain regions involved in attention regulation and shifting, such as the posterior cingulate and bilateral parietal area, were less activated among high anxiously attached individuals in the security priming condition. These results suggest a role of attachment security priming in regulating the emotional response in anxiously attached individuals during the attentional stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiyi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyuan Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Kaihua Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Jianxin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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50
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Laing PAF, Steward T, Davey CG, Felmingham KL, Fullana MA, Vervliet B, Greaves MD, Moffat B, Glarin RK, Harrison BJ. Cortico-Striatal Activity Characterizes Human Safety Learning via Pavlovian Conditioned Inhibition. J Neurosci 2022; 42:5047-5057. [PMID: 35577553 PMCID: PMC9233447 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2181-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Safety learning generates associative links between neutral stimuli and the absence of threat, promoting the inhibition of fear and security-seeking behaviors. Precisely how safety learning is mediated at the level of underlying brain systems, particularly in humans, remains unclear. Here, we integrated a novel Pavlovian conditioned inhibition task with ultra-high field (7 Tesla) fMRI to examine the neural basis of safety learning in 49 healthy participants. In our task, participants were conditioned to two safety signals: a conditioned inhibitor that predicted threat omission when paired with a known threat signal (A+/AX-), and a standard safety signal that generally predicted threat omission (BC-). Both safety signals evoked equivalent autonomic and subjective learning responses but diverged strongly in terms of underlying brain activation (PFDR whole-brain corrected). The conditioned inhibitor was characterized by more prominent activation of the dorsal striatum, anterior insular, and dorsolateral PFC compared with the standard safety signal, whereas the latter evoked greater activation of the ventromedial PFC, posterior cingulate, and hippocampus, among other regions. Further analyses of the conditioned inhibitor indicated that its initial learning was characterized by consistent engagement of dorsal striatal, midbrain, thalamic, premotor, and prefrontal subregions. These findings suggest that safety learning via conditioned inhibition involves a distributed cortico-striatal circuitry, separable from broader cortical regions involved with processing standard safety signals (e.g., CS-). This cortico-striatal system could represent a novel neural substrate of safety learning, underlying the initial generation of "stimulus-safety" associations, distinct from wider cortical correlates of safety processing, which facilitate the behavioral outcomes of learning.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Identifying safety is critical for maintaining adaptive levels of anxiety, but the neural mechanisms of human safety learning remain unclear. Using 7 Tesla fMRI, we compared learning-related brain activity for a conditioned inhibitor, which actively predicted threat omission, and a standard safety signal (CS-), which was passively unpaired with threat. The inhibitor engaged an extended circuitry primarily featuring the dorsal striatum, along with thalamic, midbrain, and premotor/PFC regions. The CS- exclusively involved cortical safety-related regions observed in basic safety conditioning, such as the vmPFC. These findings extend current models to include learning-specific mechanisms for encoding stimulus-safety associations, which might be distinguished from expression-related cortical mechanisms. These insights may suggest novel avenues for targeting dysfunctional safety learning in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A F Laing
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher G Davey
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Miguel Angel Fullana
- Adult Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona 08001, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Biomédia en Red de Salud Mental, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Bram Vervliet
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Matthew D Greaves
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Bradford Moffat
- The Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, Department of Radiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca K Glarin
- The Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, Department of Radiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
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