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Asch RH, Worhunsky PD, Davis MT, Holmes SE, Cool R, Boster S, Carson RE, Blumberg HP, Esterlis I. Deficits in prefrontal metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 are associated with functional alterations during emotional processing in bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2024; 361:415-424. [PMID: 38876317 PMCID: PMC11250898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elucidating biological mechanisms contributing to bipolar disorder (BD) is key to improved diagnosis and treatment development. With converging evidence implicating the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) in the pathology of BD, here, we therefore test the hypothesis that recently identified deficits in mGlu5 are associated with functional brain differences during emotion processing in BD. METHODS Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]FPEB was used to measure mGlu5 receptor availability and functional imaging (fMRI) was performed while participants completed an emotion processing task. Data were analyzed from 62 individuals (33 ± 12 years, 45 % female) who completed both PET and fMRI, including individuals with BD (n = 18), major depressive disorder (MDD: n = 20), and psychiatrically healthy comparisons (HC: n = 25). RESULTS Consistent with some prior reports, the BD group displayed greater activation during fear processing relative to MDD and HC, notably in right lateralized frontal and parietal brain regions. In BD, (but not MDD or HC) lower prefrontal mGlu5 availability was associated with greater activation in bilateral pre/postcentral gyri and cuneus during fear processing. Furthermore, greater prefrontal mGlu5-related brain activity in BD was associated with difficulties in psychomotor function (r≥0.904, p≤0.005) and attention (r≥0.809, p≤0.028). LIMITATIONS The modest sample size is the primary limitation. CONCLUSIONS Deficits in prefrontal mGlu5 in BD were linked to increased cortical activation during fear processing, which in turn was associated with impulsivity and attentional difficulties. These data further implicate an mGlu5-related mechanism unique to BD. More generally these data suggest integrating PET and fMRI can provide novel mechanistic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth H. Asch
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | | | - Margaret T. Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Sophie E. Holmes
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Ryan Cool
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Sarah Boster
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Richard E. Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Hilary P. Blumberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
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Toenders YJ, de Moor MHM, van der Cruijsen R, Green K, Achterberg M, Crone EA. Within-person biological mechanisms of mood variability in childhood and adolescence. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26766. [PMID: 39046072 PMCID: PMC11267453 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26766] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mood variability, the day-to-day fluctuation in mood, differs between individuals and develops during adolescence. Because adolescents show higher mood variability and average mood than children and adults, puberty might be a potential biological mechanism underlying this increase. The goal of this preregistered developmental study was to examine the neural and hormonal underpinnings of adolescent-specific within-person changes in mood variability, with a specific focus on testosterone, cortisol, pubertal status, and resting-state functional brain connectivity. Data from two longitudinal cohorts were used: the L-CID twin study (aged 7-13, N at the first timepoint = 258) and the accelerated Leiden Self-Concept study (SC; aged 11-21, N at the first timepoint = 138). In both studies resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data was collected, as well as daily mood. Additionally, in the SC study self-reported puberty testosterone and cortisol were collected. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) were used to study the within-person relations between these biological measures and mood variability and average mood. Mood variability and average mood peaked in adolescence and testosterone levels and self-reported puberty also showed an increase. Connectivity between prefrontal cortex (dlPFC and vmPFC) and subcortical regions (caudate, amygdala) decreased across development. Moreover, higher testosterone predicted average negative mood at the next time point, but not vice versa. Further, stronger vmPFC-amygdala functional connectivity predicted decreases in mood variability. Here, we show that brain connectivity during development is an important within-person biological mechanism of the development of mood in adolescents. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Mood variability peaks in adolescence. Within-person changes in testosterone predict within-person changes in mood. Within-person changes in vmPFC-amygdala connectivity predict within-person changes in mood variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara J. Toenders
- Developmental and Educational PsychologyLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral SciencesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Marleen H. M. de Moor
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child StudiesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Kayla Green
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral SciencesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Michelle Achterberg
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child StudiesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Eveline A. Crone
- Developmental and Educational PsychologyLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral SciencesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
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3
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You B, Wen H, Jackson T. Resting-state brain activity as a biomarker of chronic pain impairment and a mediator of its association with pain resilience. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26780. [PMID: 38984446 PMCID: PMC11234141 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Past cross-sectional chronic pain studies have revealed aberrant resting-state brain activity in regions involved in pain processing and affect regulation. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal research examining links of resting-state activity and pain resilience with changes in chronic pain outcomes over time. In this prospective study, we assessed the status of baseline (T1) resting-state brain activity as a biomarker of later impairment from chronic pain and a mediator of the relation between pain resilience and impairment at follow-up. One hundred forty-two adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain completed a T1 assessment comprising a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan based on regional homogeneity (ReHo) and self-report measures of demographics, pain characteristics, psychological status, pain resilience, pain severity, and pain impairment. Subsequently, pain impairment was reassessed at a 6-month follow-up (T2). Hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analyses assessed relations of T1 ReHo and pain resilience scores with changes in pain impairment. Higher T1 ReHo values in the right caudate nucleus were associated with increased pain impairment at T2, after controlling for all other statistically significant self-report measures. ReHo also partially mediated associations of T1 pain resilience dimensions with T2 pain impairment. T1 right caudate nucleus ReHo emerged as a possible biomarker of later impairment from chronic musculoskeletal pain and a neural mechanism that may help to explain why pain resilience is related to lower levels of later chronic pain impairment. Findings provide empirical foundations for prospective extensions that assess the status of ReHo activity and self-reported pain resilience as markers for later impairment from chronic pain and targets for interventions to reduce impairment. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Resting-state markers of impairment: Higher baseline (T1) regional homogeneity (ReHo) values, localized in the right caudate nucleus, were associated with exacerbations in impairment from chronic musculoskeletal pain at a 6-month follow-up, independent of T1 demographics, pain experiences, and psychological factors. Mediating role of ReHo values: ReHo values in the right caudate nucleus also mediated the relationship between baseline pain resilience levels and later pain impairment among participants. Therapeutic implications: Findings provide empirical foundations for research extensions that evaluate (1) the use of resting-state activity in assessment to identify people at risk for later impairment from pain and (2) changes in resting-state activity as biomarkers for the efficacy of treatments designed to improve resilience and reduce impairment among those in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei You
- School of NursingGuizhou Medical UniversityGuian New DistrictChina
| | - Hongwei Wen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Faculty of PsychologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Todd Jackson
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MacauTaipaMacau, SARChina
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4
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Cushing CA, Lau H, Hofmann SG, LeDoux JE, Taschereau-Dumouchel V. Metacognition as a window into subjective affective experience. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38884177 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13683] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
When patients seek professional help for mental disorders, they often do so because of troubling subjective affective experiences. While these subjective states are at the center of the patient's symptomatology, scientific tools for studying them and their cognitive antecedents are limited. Here, we explore the use of concepts and analytic tools from the science of consciousness, a field of research that has faced similar challenges in having to develop robust empirical methods for addressing a phenomenon that has been considered difficult to pin down experimentally. One important strand is the operationalization of some relevant processes in terms of metacognition and confidence ratings, which can be rigorously studied in both humans and animals. By assessing subjective experience with similar approaches, we hope to develop new scientific approaches for studying affective processes and promoting psychological resilience in the face of debilitating emotional experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody A Cushing
- Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hakwan Lau
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Joseph E LeDoux
- Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical School, New York, New York, USA
- Max-Planck-NYU Center for Language, Music, and Emotion (CLaME), New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vincent Taschereau-Dumouchel
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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5
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Teferi M, Gura H, Patel M, Casalvera A, Lynch KG, Makhoul W, Deng ZD, Oathes DJ, Sheline YI, Balderston NL. Intermittent theta-burst stimulation to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may increase potentiated startle in healthy individuals. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01871-w. [PMID: 38740902 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01871-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment protocols targeting the right dlPFC have been effective in reducing anxiety symptoms comorbid with depression. However, the mechanism behind these effects is unclear. Further, it is unclear whether these results generalize to non-depressed individuals. We conducted a series of studies aimed at understanding the link between anxiety potentiated startle and the right dlPFC, following a previous study suggesting that continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to the right dlPFC can make people more anxious. Based on these results we hypothesized that intermittent TBS (iTBS), which is thought to have opposing effects on plasticity, may reduce anxiety when targeted at the same right dlPFC region. In this double-blinded, cross-over design, 28 healthy subjects underwent 12 study visits over a 4-week period. During each of their 2 stimulation weeks, they received four 600 pulse iTBS sessions (2/day), with a post-stimulation testing session occurring 24 h following the final iTBS session. One week they received active stimulation, one week they received sham. Stimulation weeks were separated by a 1-week washout period and the order of active/sham delivery was counterbalanced across subjects. During the testing session, we induced anxiety using the threat of unpredictable shock and measured anxiety potentiated startle. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, subjects showed increased startle reactivity following active compared to sham stimulation. These results replicate work from our two previous trials suggesting that TMS to the right dlPFC increases anxiety potentiated startle, independent of both the pattern of stimulation and the timing of the post stimulation measure. Although these results confirm a mechanistic link between right dlPFC excitability and startle, capitalizing upon this link for the benefit of patients will require future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Teferi
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hannah Gura
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Milan Patel
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Abigail Casalvera
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kevin G Lynch
- Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Walid Makhoul
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhi-De Deng
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch National Institute of Mental Health National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Desmond J Oathes
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation Center University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yvette I Sheline
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas L Balderston
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation Center University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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6
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Vaidya N, Marquand AF, Nees F, Siehl S, Schumann G. The impact of psychosocial adversity on brain and behaviour: an overview of existing knowledge and directions for future research. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02556-y. [PMID: 38658773 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Environmental experiences play a critical role in shaping the structure and function of the brain. Its plasticity in response to different external stimuli has been the focus of research efforts for decades. In this review, we explore the effects of adversity on brain's structure and function and its implications for brain development, adaptation, and the emergence of mental health disorders. We are focusing on adverse events that emerge from the immediate surroundings of an individual, i.e., microenvironment. They include childhood maltreatment, peer victimisation, social isolation, affective loss, domestic conflict, and poverty. We also take into consideration exposure to environmental toxins. Converging evidence suggests that different types of adversity may share common underlying mechanisms while also exhibiting unique pathways. However, they are often studied in isolation, limiting our understanding of their combined effects and the interconnected nature of their impact. The integration of large, deep-phenotyping datasets and collaborative efforts can provide sufficient power to analyse high dimensional environmental profiles and advance the systematic mapping of neuronal mechanisms. This review provides a background for future research, highlighting the importance of understanding the cumulative impact of various adversities, through data-driven approaches and integrative multimodal analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilakshi Vaidya
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andre F Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sebastian Siehl
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-Inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Pan DN, Hoid D, Wolf OT, Merz CJ, Li X. Conflict Dynamics of Post-Retrieval Extinction: A Comparative Analysis of Unconditional and Conditional Reminders Using Skin Conductance Responses and EEG. Brain Topogr 2024:10.1007/s10548-024-01051-5. [PMID: 38635017 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-024-01051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The post-retrieval extinction paradigm, rooted in reconsolidation theory, holds promise for enhancing extinction learning and addressing anxiety and trauma-related disorders. This study investigates the impact of two reminder types, mild US-reminder (US-R) and CS-reminder (CS-R), along with a no-reminder extinction, on fear recovery prevention in a categorical fear conditioning paradigm. Scalp EEG recordings during reminder and extinction processes were conducted in a three-day design. Results show that the US-R group exhibits a distinctive extinction learning pattern, characterized by a slowed-down yet successful process and pronounced theta-alpha desynchronization (source-located in the prefrontal cortex) during CS processing, followed by enhanced synchronization (source-located in the anterior cingulate) after shock cancellation in extinction trials. These neural dynamics correlate with the subtle advantage of US-R in the Day 3 recovery test, presenting faster spontaneous recovery fading and generally lower fear reinstatement responses. Conversely, the CS reminder elicits CS-specific effects in later episodic tests. The unique neural features of the US-R group suggest a larger prediction error and subsequent effortful conflict learning processes, warranting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ni Pan
- School of Psychology, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 16 Lincui Rd Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Delhii Hoid
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 16 Lincui Rd Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Oliver T Wolf
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian J Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Xuebing Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 16 Lincui Rd Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Rosas-Vidal LE, Naskar S, Mayo LM, Perini I, Altemus M, Engelbrektsson H, Jagasia P, Heilig M, Patel S. PREFRONTAL CORRELATES OF FEAR GENERALIZATION DURING ENDOCANNABINOID DEPLETION. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.30.577847. [PMID: 38352388 PMCID: PMC10862899 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.30.577847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Maladaptive fear generalization is one of the hallmarks of trauma-related disorders. The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is crucial for modulating anxiety, fear, and stress adaptation but its role in balancing fear discrimination versus generalization is not known. To address this, we used a combination of plasma endocannabinoid measurement and neuroimaging from a childhood maltreatment exposed and non-exposed mixed population combined with human and rodent fear conditioning models. Here we show that 2-AG levels are inversely associated with fear generalization at the behavioral level in both mice and humans. In mice, 2-AG depletion increases the proportion of neurons, and the similarity between neuronal representations, of threat-predictive and neutral stimuli within prelimbic prefrontal cortex ensembles. In humans, increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortical-amygdala resting state connectivity is inversely correlated with fear generalization. These data provide convergent cross-species evidence that 2-AG is a key regulator of fear generalization and suggest 2-AG deficiency could represent a trauma-related disorder susceptibility endophenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Rosas-Vidal
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL
| | - Saptarnab Naskar
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Linköping University, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Irene Perini
- Linköping University, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Megan Altemus
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Nashville, TN
| | - Hilda Engelbrektsson
- Linköping University, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Puja Jagasia
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Nashville, TN
| | - Markus Heilig
- Linköping University, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sachin Patel
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, IL
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Nitchie F, Casalvera A, Teferi M, Patel M, Lynch K, Makhoul W, Sheline Y, Balderston NL. The maintenance of complex visual scenes in working memory may require activation of working memory manipulation circuits in the dlPFC. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.11.23298415. [PMID: 37986871 PMCID: PMC10659489 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.11.23298415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Past research has shown that the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (dlPFC) are implicated in both emotional processing as well as cognitive processing, 1,2,3 in addition to working memory 4, 5 . Exactly how these disparate processes interact with one another within the dlPFC is less understood. To explore this, researchers designed an experiment that looked at working memory performance during fMRI under both emotional and non-emotional task conditions. Participants were asked to complete three tasks (letters, neutral images, emotional images) of the Sternberg Sorting Task under one of two trial conditions (sort or maintain). Regions of interest consisted of the left and right dlPFC as defined by brain masks based on NeuroSynth 6 . Results showed a significant main effect of the 'sort' condition on reaction speed for all three trial types, as well as a main effect of task type (letters) on accuracy. In addition, a significant interaction was found between trial type (sort) and task type (letters), but not for either of the picture tasks. These results reveal a discrepancy between BOLD signal and behavioral data, with no significant difference in BOLD activity during image trials being displayed, despite longer response times for every condition. While these results show that the dlPFC is clearly implicated in non-emotional cognitive processing, more research is needed to explain the lack of BOLD activation seen here for similar emotionally valanced tasks, possibly indicating involvement of other brain networks.
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Grégoire L, Robinson TD, Choi JM, Greening SG. Conscious expectancy rather than associative strength elicits brain activity during single-cue fear conditioning. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad054. [PMID: 37756616 PMCID: PMC10597625 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad054] [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: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurocognitive processes underlying Pavlovian conditioning in humans are still largely debated. The conventional view is that conditioned responses (CRs) emerge automatically as a function of the contingencies between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US). As such, the associative strength model asserts that the frequency or amplitude of CRs reflects the strength of the CS-US associations. Alternatively, the expectation model asserts that the presentation of the CS triggers conscious expectancy of the US, which is responsible for the production of CRs. The present study tested the hypothesis that there are dissociable brain networks related to the expectancy and associative strength theories using a single-cue fear conditioning paradigm with a pseudo-random intermittent reinforcement schedule during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants' (n = 21) trial-by-trial expectations of receiving shock displayed a significant linear effect consistent with the expectation model. We also found a positive linear relationship between the expectancy model and activity in frontoparietal brain areas including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dorsomedial PFC. While an exploratory analysis found a linear relationship consistent with the associated strength model in the insula and early visual cortex, our primary results are consistent with the view that conscious expectancy contributes to CRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Grégoire
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M, College Station, TX 77843-4235, USA
| | - Tyler D Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jong Moon Choi
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Statistical Methodology Division, Statistics Research Institute, Daejeon 35208, South Korea
| | - Steven G Greening
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Canada
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Wang H, Yin N, Wang A, Xu G. Cortical functional networks of transcutaneous electrical stimulation at acupoints on the pericardial meridian. Neuropsychologia 2023; 189:108669. [PMID: 37648106 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108669] [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: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
To explore the relationship between pericardial meridian acupoints and brain, the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were collected synchronously during transcutaneous electrical stimulation at PC3, PC5, PC7, and PC8 on the pericardial meridian in 21 healthy subjects. The cerebral cortex functional networks were constructed by standard low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA), phase-locking value (PLV) and complex network methods. The prefrontal cortex (BA10), the orbitofrontal cortex (BA11), the middle temporal gyrus (BA21), the temporal gyrus (BA22), the temporal pole (BA38), the triangular part (BA44), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA46), and the inferior frontal cortex (BA47) were activated by electrical stimulation at PC3, PC5, PC7, and PC8 on the pericardium meridian. These activated brain regions are able to modulate both local and remote emotion and cognitive networks. Acupoint stimulation of pericardium meridian mainly activated the frontal and the temporal lobes. Compared with non-acupoint stimulation, the node degree in the frontal lobe of electrical stimulation at PC3 (p < 0.05), PC5 (p < 0.05), PC7 (p < 0.01), PC8 (p < 0.05) and the temporal lobe of PC3 (p < 0.05), PC5 (p < 0.05), PC7 (p < 0.05), PC8 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased. The clustering coefficient in the frontal lobe of the stimulation at PC3 (p < 0.05), PC5 (p < 0.05), PC7 (p < 0.01), PC8 (p < 0.05) and the temporal lobe of PC3 (p < 0.05), PC5 (p < 0.05), PC7 (p < 0.01), PC8 (p < 0.05) were significantly increased. The characteristic path length decreased and the global efficiency increased during acupoint stimulation. The changes of functional network of stimulated pericardium meridian through cerebral cortex may provide theoretical support for the specificity of meridian and acupoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetic Technology and Intelligent Health, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China.
| | - Ning Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetic Technology and Intelligent Health, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China.
| | - Aoxiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetic Technology and Intelligent Health, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China.
| | - Guizhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetic Technology and Intelligent Health, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China; School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China.
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12
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Morgan AA, Alves ND, Stevens GS, Yeasmin TT, Mackay A, Power S, Sargin D, Hanna C, Adib AL, Ziolkowski-Blake A, Lambe EK, Ansorge MS. Medial Prefrontal Cortex Serotonin Input Regulates Cognitive Flexibility in Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.30.534775. [PMID: 37034804 PMCID: PMC10081203 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.534775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulates cognitive flexibility and emotional behavior. Neurons that release serotonin project to the mPFC, and serotonergic drugs influence emotion and cognition. Yet, the specific roles of endogenous serotonin release in the mPFC on neurophysiology and behavior are unknown. We show that axonal serotonin release in the mPFC directly inhibits the major mPFC output neurons. In serotonergic neurons projecting from the dorsal raphe to the mPFC, we find endogenous activity signatures pre-reward retrieval and at reward retrieval during a cognitive flexibility task. In vivo optogenetic activation of this pathway during pre-reward retrieval selectively improved extradimensional rule shift performance while inhibition impaired it, demonstrating sufficiency and necessity for mPFC serotonin release in cognitive flexibility. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior were not affected by either optogenetic manipulation. Collectively, our data reveal a powerful and specific modulatory role of endogenous serotonin release from dorsal raphe-to-mPFC projecting neurons in cognitive flexibility.
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13
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Benzait A, Krenz V, Wegrzyn M, Doll A, Woermann F, Labudda K, Bien CG, Kissler J. Hemodynamic correlates of emotion regulation in frontal lobe epilepsy patients and healthy participants. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:1456-1475. [PMID: 36366744 PMCID: PMC9921231 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to regulate emotions is indispensable for maintaining psychological health. It heavily relies on frontal lobe functions which are disrupted in frontal lobe epilepsy. Accordingly, emotional dysregulation and use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies have been reported in frontal lobe epilepsy patients. Therefore, it is of clinical and scientific interest to investigate emotion regulation in frontal lobe epilepsy. We studied neural correlates of upregulating and downregulating emotions toward aversive pictures through reappraisal in 18 frontal lobe epilepsy patients and 17 healthy controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Patients tended to report more difficulties with impulse control than controls. On the neural level, patients had diminished activity during upregulation in distributed left-sided regions, including ventrolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus and anterior temporal gyrus. Patients also showed less activity than controls in the left precuneus for upregulation compared to downregulation. Unlike controls, they displayed no task-related activity changes in the left amygdala, whereas the right amygdala showed task-related modulations in both groups. Upregulation-related activity changes in the left inferior frontal gyrus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus were correlated with questionnaire data on habitual emotion regulation. Our results show that structural or functional impairments in the frontal lobes disrupt neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation through reappraisal throughout the brain, including posterior regions involved in semantic control. Findings on the amygdala as a major target of emotion regulation are in line with the view that specifically the left amygdala is connected with semantic processing networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Benzait
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Valentina Krenz
- Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Wegrzyn
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anna Doll
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Department of Epileptology (Mara Hospital), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Friedrich Woermann
- Department of Epileptology (Mara Hospital), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kirsten Labudda
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Christian G Bien
- Department of Epileptology (Mara Hospital), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Johanna Kissler
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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14
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Zhang R, Zhao W, Qi Z, Xu T, Zhou F, Becker B. Angiotensin II Regulates the Neural Expression of Subjective Fear in Humans: A Precision Pharmaco-Neuroimaging Approach. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:262-270. [PMID: 36174930 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent models and pharmacological neuroimaging studies in humans have been used to test novel pharmacological agents to reduce fear. However, these strategies are limited with respect to determining process-specific effects on the actual subjective experience of fear, which represents the key symptom that motivates patients to seek treatment. In this study, we used a novel precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach based on process-specific neuroaffective signatures to determine effects of the selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonist losartan on the subjective experience of fear. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging design, healthy participants (N = 87) were administered 50 mg losartan or placebo before they underwent an oddball paradigm that included neutral, novel, and fear oddballs. Effects of losartan on brain activity and connectivity as well as on process-specific multivariate neural signatures were examined. RESULTS AT1R blockade selectively reduced neurofunctional reactivity to fear-inducing visual oddballs in terms of attenuating dorsolateral prefrontal activity and amygdala-ventral anterior cingulate communication. Neurofunctional decoding further demonstrated fear-specific effects in that AT1R blockade reduced the neural expression of subjective fear but not of threat or nonspecific negative affect and did not influence reactivity to novel oddballs. CONCLUSIONS These results show a specific role of the AT1R in regulating the subjective fear experience and demonstrate the feasibility of a precision pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging approach to the affective characterization of novel receptor targets for fear in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhang
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziyu Qi
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, ChongQing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, ChongQing, China.
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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15
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White LK, Makhoul W, Teferi M, Sheline YI, Balderston NL. The role of dlPFC laterality in the expression and regulation of anxiety. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109355. [PMID: 36442650 PMCID: PMC9790039 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder. Therefore, elucidating brain mechanisms implicated in anxiety disorders is important avenue for developing novel treatments and improving care. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is thought to be critically involved in working memory processes (i.e. maintenance, manipulation, suppression, etc.). In addition, there is evidence that this region is involved in anxiety regulation. However, it is unclear how working memory related dlPFC processes contribute to anxiety regulation. Furthermore, we know that laterality plays an important role in working memory related dlPFC processing, however there is no current model of dlPFC mediated anxiety regulation that accounts for potential laterality effects. To address this gap, we propose a potential framework where the dlPFC contributes to emotion regulation via working memory processing. According to this framework, working memory is a fundamental process executed by the dlPFC. However, the domain of content differs across the left and right dlPFC, with the left dlPFC sensitive to primarily verbal content, and the right dlPFC sensitive to primarily non-verbal (affective content). Critically, working memory processes allow for both the retention and suppression of affective information in working memory and the overall net effect of processing on mood will depend on the balance of retention and suppression, the valence of the information being processed (positive vs. negative), and the domain of the information (verbal vs. non-verbal). If accurate, the proposed framework predicts that effects of neuromodulation targeting the dlPFC may be dependent upon the context during which the stimulation is presented. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Fear, Anxiety and PTSD'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K White
- Lifespan Brain Institute Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Walid Makhoul
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marta Teferi
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yvette I Sheline
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas L Balderston
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress Department of Psychiatry University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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16
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Kribakaran S, Odriozola P, Cohodes EM, McCauley S, Zacharek SJ, Hodges H, Haberman JT, Pierre JC, Gee DG. Neural circuitry involved in conditioned inhibition via safety signal learning is sensitive to trauma exposure. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100497. [PMID: 36532365 PMCID: PMC9755062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to trauma throughout the lifespan is prevalent and increases the likelihood for the development of mental health conditions such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Safety signal learning (SSL)--a form of conditioned inhibition that involves reducing fear via conditioned safety--has been shown to effectively attenuate fear responses among individuals with trauma exposure, but the association between trauma exposure and the neural mechanisms of SSL remains unknown. Adults with varied prior exposure to trauma completed a conditioned inhibition task during functional MRI scanning and collection of skin conductance response (SCR). Conditioned safety signals reduced psychophysiological reactivity (i.e., SCR) in the overall sample. Although exposure to a higher number of traumatic events was associated with elevated SCR across all task conditions, SCR did not differ between threat in the presence of conditioned safety (i.e., SSL) relative to threat alone in a trauma-related manner. At the neural level, however, higher levels of trauma exposure were associated with lower hippocampal, amygdala, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortical activation during SSL. These findings suggest that while conditioned safety signals can reduce fear in the presence of threat even among individuals exposed to higher degrees of trauma, the neural circuitry involved in SSL is in fact sensitive to trauma exposure. Future research investigating neural processes during SSL among individuals with PTSD or anxiety can further elucidate the ways in which SSL and its neural correlates may reduce fear and link trauma exposure with later mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Kribakaran
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paola Odriozola
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Sarah McCauley
- Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadie J. Zacharek
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - H.R. Hodges
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Dylan G. Gee
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Corresponding author. 2 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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17
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Behavioral and neural responses during fear conditioning and extinction in a large transdiagnostic sample. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 35:103060. [PMID: 35679785 PMCID: PMC9189200 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103060] [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: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral and neural responses during Pavlovian fear learning were examined in a large sample of healthy and individuals with anxiety and depression. Latent profile models to threat were derived from behavioral and neural data. Demographic, cognitive, and psychological variables did not robustly characterize latent profiles. Neuroimaging data did not evidence functional role of amygdala in fear learning. Human fear learning recruited a distributed network of regions involved in interoceptive, cognitive, motivational, and psychomotor processes.
Background Dysregulation of fear learning has been associated with psychiatric disorders that have altered positive and negative valence domain function. While amygdala-insula-prefrontal circuitry is considered important for fear learning, there have been inconsistencies in neural findings in healthy and clinical human samples. This study aimed to delineate the neural substrates and behavioral responses during fear learning in a large, transdiagnostic sample with predominantly depressive and/or anxious dysfunction. Methods Two-hundred and eighty-two individuals (52 healthy participants; 230 participants with depression and/or anxiety-related problems) from the Tulsa 1000 study, an ongoing, naturalistic longitudinal study based on a dimensional psychopathological framework, completed a Pavlovian fear learning task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Linear mixed-effects analyses examined condition-by-time effects on brain activation (CS+, CS- across familiarization, conditioning, and extinction trials). A data-driven latent profile analysis (LPA) examined distinct patterns of behavioral and neural responses to threat across fear conditioning and extinction, while logistic regression analyses evaluated cognitive-affective predictors of latent profiles. Results Whole-brain analyses revealed a condition-by-time interaction in the anterior insula, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and cerebellum but not amygdala. The LPA identified distinct latent profiles across subjective and neural levels of measurement. Anterior insula profiles were characterized by marginal differences in age and state anxiety. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that human fear learning recruits a distributed network of regions involved in interoceptive, cognitive, motivational, and psychomotor processes. Data-driven analyses identified distinct profiles of subjective and neural responses during fear learning that transcended clinical diagnoses, but no robust relationships to demographic or cognitive-affective variable were identified.
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18
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Kredlow MA, de Voogd LD, Phelps EA. A Case for Translation From the Clinic to the Laboratory. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022; 17:1120-1149. [PMID: 35245166 DOI: 10.1177/17456916211039852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory procedures have been used for decades as analogues for clinical processes with the goal of improving our understanding of psychological treatments for emotional disorders and identifying strategies to make treatments more effective. This research has often focused on translation from the laboratory to the clinic. Although this approach has notable successes, it has not been seamless. There are many examples of strategies that work in the laboratory that fail to lead to improved outcomes when applied clinically. One possible reason for this gap between experimental and clinical research is a failure to focus on translation from the clinic to the laboratory. Here, we discuss potential benefits of translation from the clinic to the laboratory and provide examples of how this might be implemented. We first consider two well-established laboratory analogues (extinction and cognitive reappraisal), identify critical aspects of the related clinical procedures (exposure and cognitive restructuring) that are missing from these analogues, and propose variations to better capture the clinical process. Second, we discuss two clinical procedures that have more recently been brought into the laboratory (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing and imagery rescripting). We conclude by highlighting potential implications of this proposed shift in focus for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alexandra Kredlow
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University.,Department of Psychology, Harvard University
| | - Lycia D de Voogd
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center
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19
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Greening SG, Lee TH, Burleigh L, Grégoire L, Robinson T, Jiang X, Mather M, Kaplan J. Mental imagery can generate and regulate acquired differential fear conditioned reactivity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:997. [PMID: 35046506 PMCID: PMC8770773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05019-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental imagery is an important tool in the cognitive control of emotion. The present study tests the prediction that visual imagery can generate and regulate differential fear conditioning via the activation and prioritization of stimulus representations in early visual cortices. We combined differential fear conditioning with manipulations of viewing and imagining basic visual stimuli in humans. We discovered that mental imagery of a fear-conditioned stimulus compared to imagery of a safe conditioned stimulus generated a significantly greater conditioned response as measured by self-reported fear, the skin conductance response, and right anterior insula activity (experiment 1). Moreover, mental imagery effectively down- and up-regulated the fear conditioned responses (experiment 2). Multivariate classification using the functional magnetic resonance imaging data from retinotopically defined early visual regions revealed significant decoding of the imagined stimuli in V2 and V3 (experiment 1) but significantly reduced decoding in these regions during imagery-based regulation (experiment 2). Together, the present findings indicate that mental imagery can generate and regulate a differential fear conditioned response via mechanisms of the depictive theory of imagery and the biased-competition theory of attention. These findings also highlight the potential importance of mental imagery in the manifestation and treatment of psychological illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Greening
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Tae-Ho Lee
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Lauryn Burleigh
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
| | - Laurent Grégoire
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Tyler Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
| | - Xinrui Jiang
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
| | - Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jonas Kaplan
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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20
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Alexandra Kredlow M, Fenster RJ, Laurent ES, Ressler KJ, Phelps EA. Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: implications for PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:247-259. [PMID: 34545196 PMCID: PMC8617299 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01155-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder can be viewed as a disorder of fear dysregulation. An abundance of research suggests that the prefrontal cortex is central to fear processing-that is, how fears are acquired and strategies to regulate or diminish fear responses. The current review covers foundational research on threat or fear acquisition and extinction in nonhuman animals, healthy humans, and patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, through the lens of the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in these processes. Research harnessing advances in technology to further probe the role of the prefrontal cortex in these processes, such as the use of optogenetics in rodents and brain stimulation in humans, will be highlighted, as well other fear regulation approaches that are relevant to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and involve the prefrontal cortex, namely cognitive regulation and avoidance/active coping. Despite the large body of translational research, many questions remain unanswered and posttraumatic stress disorder remains difficult to treat. We conclude by outlining future research directions related to the role of the prefrontal cortex in fear processing and implications for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Alexandra Kredlow
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Robert J. Fenster
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDivision of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Emma S. Laurent
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDivision of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Phelps
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
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21
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Comparing three extinction methods to reduce fear expression and generalization. Behav Brain Res 2021; 420:113714. [PMID: 34906608 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fear extinction is easy to achieve but difficult to maintain, as evidenced by the relapse of fear after extinction. Counterconditioning and novelty-facilitated extinction have been shown to interfere with fear expression without erasing it. Because of the similarity between the two extinction paradigms, we extended the standard extinction, which merely omitted the expected threat outcomes after exposure to original threat cues. The modified paradigm provided a stimulus (neutral picture or positive picture) to replace the omitted threat outcomes during extinction. Sixty-four healthy volunteers were randomized into three groups for a three-day procedure: fear acquisition (day 1), fear extinction (day 2), and fear recall and generalization test (day 3). Our results showed the modified extinction paradigm failed to prevent fear expression in spontaneous recovery and reinstatement tests. However, novelty-facilitated extinction showed powerful effects in preventing fear generalization. Besides, there was a negative correlation between spontaneous recovery index and emotion regulation scores. We speculated that emotion and prediction error may be important factors influencing fear extinction and affect fear recall and generalization. Overall, this study suggests that novelty-facilitated extinction had a superior effect in preventing fear generalization, providing new perspectives for enhancing the effect of exposure therapy.
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22
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García-González S, Lugo-Marín J, Setien-Ramos I, Gisbert-Gustemps L, Arteaga-Henríquez G, Díez-Villoria E, Ramos-Quiroga JA. Transcranial direct current stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 48:89-109. [PMID: 33773886 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has gained relevance in recent years as an alternative treatment for neuropsychiatric conditions. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the use of tDCS in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Both electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals addressing the use of tDCS in ASD population. A total of 16 studies fulfilled the criteria to be included in the review. Studies were conducted both in child and adult population. Anodal stimulation on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was the most commonly chosen methodology. Outcomes addressed ASD symptoms and neuropsychological functions. Meta-analytic synthesis identified improvements in social, health, and behavioral problem domains of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. Limitations included high heterogeneity in the methodology and low-efficacy study designs (pre-post and single-case studies). Recent controlled trials shed promising results for the use of tDCS in ASD. A standardized stimulation protocol and a consensus in the measures used in the evaluation of the efficacy are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara García-González
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jorge Lugo-Marín
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Imanol Setien-Ramos
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laura Gisbert-Gustemps
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gara Arteaga-Henríquez
- Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Emiliano Díez-Villoria
- Centro de Atención Integral al Autismo-InFoAutismo, INICO-Instituto Universitario de Integración en la Comunidad, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Marković V, Vicario CM, Yavari F, Salehinejad MA, Nitsche MA. A Systematic Review on the Effect of Transcranial Direct Current and Magnetic Stimulation on Fear Memory and Extinction. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:655947. [PMID: 33828472 PMCID: PMC8019721 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.655947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders. Present treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacological treatments show only moderate success, which emphasizes the importance for the development of new treatment protocols. Non-invasive brain stimulation methods such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been probed as therapeutic option for anxiety disorders in recent years. Mechanistic information about their mode of action, and most efficient protocols is however limited. Here the fear extinction model can serve as a model of exposure therapies for studying therapeutic mechanisms, and development of appropriate intervention protocols. We systematically reviewed 30 research articles that investigated the impact of rTMS and tDCS on fear memory and extinction in animal models and humans, in clinical and healthy populations. The results of these studies suggest that tDCS and rTMS can be efficient methods to modulate fear memory and extinction. Furthermore, excitability-enhancing stimulation applied over the vmPFC showed the strongest potential to enhance fear extinction. We further discuss factors that determine the efficacy of rTMS and tDCS in the context of the fear extinction model and provide future directions to optimize parameters and protocols of stimulation for research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vuk Marković
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Fatemeh Yavari
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mohammad A. Salehinejad
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr-University-Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
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24
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Berboth S, Morawetz C. Amygdala-prefrontal connectivity during emotion regulation: A meta-analysis of psychophysiological interactions. Neuropsychologia 2021; 153:107767. [PMID: 33516732 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Given the importance of emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic factor in the development of psychopathology, a myriad of neuroimaging studies has investigated its neural underpinnings. However, single studies usually provide limited insight into the function of specific brain regions. Hence, to better understand the interaction between key regions involved in emotion generation and regulation, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that examined emotion regulation-modulated connectivity of the amygdala using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. We analyzed fifteen PPI studies using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm. Investigating emotion regulation-modulated connectivity independent of regulation strategy and goal revealed convergent connectivity between the amygdala and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), which was primarily driven by PPI studies implementing reappraisal as a regulation strategy. A more focused analysis testing for effective coupling during the down-regulation of emotions by using reappraisal specifically revealed convergent connectivity between the amygdala and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). These prefrontal regions have been implicated in emotion regulatory processes such as working memory (dlPFC), language processes (vlPFC), and the attribution of mental states (dmPFC). Our findings suggest not only a dynamic modulation of connectivity between emotion generative and regulatory systems during the cognitive control of emotions, but also highlight the robustness of task-modulated prefrontal-amygdala coupling, thereby informing neurally-derived models of emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Berboth
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
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25
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Hur J, Smith JF, DeYoung KA, Anderson AS, Kuang J, Kim HC, Tillman RM, Kuhn M, Fox AS, Shackman AJ. Anxiety and the Neurobiology of Temporally Uncertain Threat Anticipation. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7949-7964. [PMID: 32958570 PMCID: PMC7548695 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0704-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
When extreme, anxiety-a state of distress and arousal prototypically evoked by uncertain danger-can be debilitating. Uncertain anticipation is a shared feature of situations that elicit signs and symptoms of anxiety across psychiatric disorders, species, and assays. Despite the profound significance of anxiety for human health and wellbeing, the neurobiology of uncertain-threat anticipation remains unsettled. Leveraging a paradigm adapted from animal research and optimized for fMRI signal decomposition, we examined the neural circuits engaged during the anticipation of temporally uncertain and certain threat in 99 men and women. Results revealed that the neural systems recruited by uncertain and certain threat anticipation are anatomically colocalized in frontocortical regions, extended amygdala, and periaqueductal gray. Comparison of the threat conditions demonstrated that this circuitry can be fractionated, with frontocortical regions showing relatively stronger engagement during the anticipation of uncertain threat, and the extended amygdala showing the reverse pattern. Although there is widespread agreement that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and dorsal amygdala-the two major subdivisions of the extended amygdala-play a critical role in orchestrating adaptive responses to potential danger, their precise contributions to human anxiety have remained contentious. Follow-up analyses demonstrated that these regions show statistically indistinguishable responses to temporally uncertain and certain threat anticipation. These observations provide a framework for conceptualizing anxiety and fear, for understanding the functional neuroanatomy of threat anticipation in humans, and for accelerating the development of more effective intervention strategies for pathological anxiety.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anxiety-an emotion prototypically associated with the anticipation of uncertain harm-has profound significance for public health, yet the underlying neurobiology remains unclear. Leveraging a novel neuroimaging paradigm in a relatively large sample, we identify a core circuit responsive to both uncertain and certain threat anticipation, and show that this circuitry can be fractionated into subdivisions with a bias for one kind of threat or the other. The extended amygdala occupies center stage in neuropsychiatric models of anxiety, but its functional architecture has remained contentious. Here we demonstrate that its major subdivisions show statistically indistinguishable responses to temporally uncertain and certain threat. Collectively, these observations indicate the need to revise how we think about the neurobiology of anxiety and fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoen Hur
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Allegra S Anderson
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240
| | - Jinyi Kuang
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Hyung Cho Kim
- Departments of Psychology
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program
| | | | - Manuel Kuhn
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Alexander J Shackman
- Departments of Psychology
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program
- Maryland Neuroimaging Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
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26
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Steward T, Davey CG, Jamieson AJ, Stephanou K, Soriano-Mas C, Felmingham KL, Harrison BJ. Dynamic Neural Interactions Supporting the Cognitive Reappraisal of Emotion. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:961-973. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The cognitive reappraisal of emotion is hypothesized to involve frontal regions modulating the activity of subcortical regions such as the amygdala. However, the pathways by which structurally disparate frontal regions interact with the amygdala remains unclear. In this study, 104 healthy young people completed a cognitive reappraisal task. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) was used to map functional interactions within a frontoamygdalar network engaged during emotion regulation. Five regions were identified to form the network: the amygdala, the presupplementary motor area (preSMA), the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Bayesian Model Selection was used to compare 256 candidate models, with our winning model featuring modulations of vmPFC-to-amygdala and amygdala-to-preSMA pathways during reappraisal. Moreover, the strength of amygdala-to-preSMA modulation was associated with the habitual use of cognitive reappraisal. Our findings support the vmPFC serving as the primary conduit through which prefrontal regions directly modulate amygdala activity, with amygdala-to-preSMA connectivity potentially acting to shape ongoing affective motor responses. We propose that these two frontoamygdalar pathways constitute a recursive feedback loop, which computes the effectiveness of emotion-regulatory actions and drives model-based behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Steward
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher G Davey
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Alec J Jamieson
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Katerina Stephanou
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute/IDIBELL and CIBERSAM, Barcelona 08907, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology in Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
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27
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Abend R, Gold AL, Britton JC, Michalska KJ, Shechner T, Sachs JF, Winkler AM, Leibenluft E, Averbeck BB, Pine DS. Anticipatory Threat Responding: Associations With Anxiety, Development, and Brain Structure. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:916-925. [PMID: 31955915 PMCID: PMC7211142 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While translational theories link neurodevelopmental changes in threat learning to pathological anxiety, findings from studies in patients inconsistently support these theories. This inconsistency may reflect difficulties in studying large patient samples with wide age ranges using consistent methods. A dearth of imaging data in patients further limits translational advances. We address these gaps through a psychophysiology and structural brain imaging study in a large sample of patients across the lifespan. METHODS A total of 351 participants (8-50 years of age; 209 female subjects; 195 healthy participants and 156 medication-free, treatment-seeking patients with anxiety) completed a differential threat conditioning and extinction paradigm that has been validated in pediatric and adult populations. Skin conductance response indexed psychophysiological response to conditioned (CS+, CS-) and unconditioned threat stimuli. Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were available for 250 participants. Analyses tested anxiety and age associations with psychophysiological response in addition to associations between psychophysiology and brain structure. RESULTS Regardless of age, patients and healthy comparison subjects demonstrated comparable differential threat conditioning and extinction. The magnitude of skin conductance response to both conditioned stimulus types differentiated patients from comparison subjects and covaried with dorsal prefrontal cortical thickness; structure-response associations were moderated by anxiety and age in several regions. Unconditioned responding was unrelated to anxiety and brain structure. CONCLUSIONS Rather than impaired threat learning, pathological anxiety involves heightened skin conductance response to potential but not immediately present threats; this anxiety-related potentiation of anticipatory responding also relates to variation in brain structure. These findings inform theoretical considerations by highlighting anticipatory response to potential threat in anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rany Abend
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Andrea L. Gold
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI; Pediatric Anxiety Research Center, Bradley Hospital, Riverside, RI
| | | | | | - Tomer Shechner
- Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Anderson M. Winkler
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ellen Leibenluft
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Bruno B. Averbeck
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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28
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Carpenter JK, Pinaire M, Hofmann SG. From Extinction Learning to Anxiety Treatment: Mind the Gap. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9070164. [PMID: 31336700 PMCID: PMC6680899 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9070164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Laboratory models of extinction learning in animals and humans have the potential to illuminate methods for improving clinical treatment of fear-based clinical disorders. However, such translational research often neglects important differences between threat responses in animals and fear learning in humans, particularly as it relates to the treatment of clinical disorders. Specifically, the conscious experience of fear and anxiety, along with the capacity to deliberately engage top-down cognitive processes to modulate that experience, involves distinct brain circuitry and is measured and manipulated using different methods than typically used in laboratory research. This paper will identify how translational research that investigates methods of enhancing extinction learning can more effectively model such elements of human fear learning, and how doing so will enhance the relevance of this research to the treatment of fear-based psychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph K Carpenter
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 900 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Megan Pinaire
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 900 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 900 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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