1
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Greaves MD, Felmingham KL, Ney LJ, Nicholson EL, Li S, Vervliet B, Harrison BJ, Graham BM, Steward T. Using electrodermal activity to estimate fear learning differences in anxiety: A multiverse analysis. Behav Res Ther 2024; 181:104598. [PMID: 39142133 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104598] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Meta-analyses indicate differences in Pavlovian fear responses between anxious and non-anxious individuals using electrodermal activity (EDA). Recent research, however, has cast doubt on whether these effects are robust to different analytic choices. Using the multiverse approach conceived by Steegen et al. (2016), we surveyed analytic choices typically implemented in clinical fear conditioning research by conducting 1240 analyses reflecting different choice permutations. Only 1.45% of our analyses produced theoretically congruent statistically significant effects, and the strength and direction of the estimated effects varied substantially across EDA processing methods. We conclude that EDA-estimated fear learning differences are vulnerable to researcher degrees of freedom and make recommendations regarding which analytical choices should be approached with a high degree of caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Greaves
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Emma L Nicholson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stella Li
- School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bram Vervliet
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bronwyn M Graham
- School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Trevor Steward
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Marder MA, Miller GA. The future of psychophysiology, then and now. Biol Psychol 2024; 189:108792. [PMID: 38588815 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108792] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Since its founding in 1973, Biological Psychology has showcased and provided invaluable support to psychophysiology, a field that has grown and changed enormously. This article discusses some constancies that have remained fundamental to the journal and to the field as well as some important trends. Some aspects of our science have not received due consideration, affecting not only the generalizability of our findings but the way we develop and evaluate our research questions and the potential of our field to contribute to the common good. The article offers a number of predictions and recommendations for the next period of growth of psychophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregory A Miller
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA; University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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3
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Clayson PE. Beyond single paradigms, pipelines, and outcomes: Embracing multiverse analyses in psychophysiology. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 197:112311. [PMID: 38296000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112311] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Psychophysiological research is an inherently complex undertaking due to the nature of the data, and its analysis is characterized by many decision points that shape the final dataset and a study's findings. These decisions create a "multiverse" of possible outcomes, and each decision from study conceptualization to statistical analysis can lead to different results and interpretations. This review describes the concept of multiverse analyses, a methodological approach designed to understand the impact of different decisions on the robustness of a study's findings and interpretation. The emphasis is on transparently showcasing different reasonable approaches for constructing a final dataset and on highlighting the influence of various decision points, from experimental design to data processing and outcome selection. For example, the choice of an experimental task can significantly impact event-related brain potential (ERP) scores or skin conductance responses (SCRs), and different tasks might elicit unique variances in each measure. This review underscores the importance of transparently embracing the flexibility inherent in psychophysiological research and the potential consequences of not understanding the fragility or robustness of experimental findings. By navigating the intricate terrain of the psychophysiological multiverse, this review serves as an introduction, helping researchers to make informed decisions, improve the collective understanding of psychophysiological findings, and push the boundaries of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Clayson
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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4
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Nebe S, Reutter M, Baker DH, Bölte J, Domes G, Gamer M, Gärtner A, Gießing C, Gurr C, Hilger K, Jawinski P, Kulke L, Lischke A, Markett S, Meier M, Merz CJ, Popov T, Puhlmann LMC, Quintana DS, Schäfer T, Schubert AL, Sperl MFJ, Vehlen A, Lonsdorf TB, Feld GB. Enhancing precision in human neuroscience. eLife 2023; 12:e85980. [PMID: 37555830 PMCID: PMC10411974 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Human neuroscience has always been pushing the boundary of what is measurable. During the last decade, concerns about statistical power and replicability - in science in general, but also specifically in human neuroscience - have fueled an extensive debate. One important insight from this discourse is the need for larger samples, which naturally increases statistical power. An alternative is to increase the precision of measurements, which is the focus of this review. This option is often overlooked, even though statistical power benefits from increasing precision as much as from increasing sample size. Nonetheless, precision has always been at the heart of good scientific practice in human neuroscience, with researchers relying on lab traditions or rules of thumb to ensure sufficient precision for their studies. In this review, we encourage a more systematic approach to precision. We start by introducing measurement precision and its importance for well-powered studies in human neuroscience. Then, determinants for precision in a range of neuroscientific methods (MRI, M/EEG, EDA, Eye-Tracking, and Endocrinology) are elaborated. We end by discussing how a more systematic evaluation of precision and the application of respective insights can lead to an increase in reproducibility in human neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Nebe
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Mario Reutter
- Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-UniversityWürzburgGermany
| | - Daniel H Baker
- Department of Psychology and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of YorkYorkUnited Kingdom
| | - Jens Bölte
- Institute for Psychology, University of Münster, Otto-Creuzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral NeuroscienceMünsterGermany
| | - Gregor Domes
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of TrierTrierGermany
- Institute for Cognitive and Affective NeuroscienceTrierGermany
| | - Matthias Gamer
- Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-UniversityWürzburgGermany
| | - Anne Gärtner
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Carsten Gießing
- Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgOldenburgGermany
| | - Caroline Gurr
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
- Brain Imaging Center, Goethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | - Kirsten Hilger
- Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-UniversityWürzburgGermany
- Department of Psychology, Psychological Diagnostics and Intervention, Catholic University of Eichstätt-IngolstadtEichstättGermany
| | - Philippe Jawinski
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Louisa Kulke
- Department of Developmental with Educational Psychology, University of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Alexander Lischke
- Department of Psychology, Medical School HamburgHamburgGermany
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Sebastian Markett
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Maria Meier
- Department of Psychology, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- University Psychiatric Hospitals, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Christian J Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University BochumBochumGermany
| | - Tzvetan Popov
- Department of Psychology, Methods of Plasticity Research, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Lara MC Puhlmann
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience ResearchMainzGermany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
- NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders & Disabilities, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Tim Schäfer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
- Brain Imaging Center, Goethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | | | - Matthias FJ Sperl
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of GiessenGiessenGermany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Antonia Vehlen
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of TrierTrierGermany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburgGermany
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of BielefeldBielefeldGermany
| | - Gordon B Feld
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Department of Psychology, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Department of Addiction Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
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5
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Lewis MW, Webb CA, Kuhn M, Akman E, Jobson SA, Rosso IM. Predicting Fear Extinction in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1131. [PMID: 37626488 PMCID: PMC10452660 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13081131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction is the basis of exposure therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but half of patients do not improve. Predicting fear extinction in individuals with PTSD may inform personalized exposure therapy development. The participants were 125 trauma-exposed adults (96 female) with a range of PTSD symptoms. Electromyography, electrocardiogram, and skin conductance were recorded at baseline, during dark-enhanced startle, and during fear conditioning and extinction. Using a cross-validated, hold-out sample prediction approach, three penalized regressions and conventional ordinary least squares were trained to predict fear-potentiated startle during extinction using 50 predictor variables (5 clinical, 24 self-reported, and 21 physiological). The predictors, selected by penalized regression algorithms, were included in multivariable regression analyses, while univariate regressions assessed individual predictors. All the penalized regressions outperformed OLS in prediction accuracy and generalizability, as indexed by the lower mean squared error in the training and holdout subsamples. During early extinction, the consistent predictors across all the modeling approaches included dark-enhanced startle, the depersonalization and derealization subscale of the dissociative experiences scale, and the PTSD hyperarousal symptom score. These findings offer novel insights into the modeling approaches and patient characteristics that may reliably predict fear extinction in PTSD. Penalized regression shows promise for identifying symptom-related variables to enhance the predictive modeling accuracy in clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Lewis
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christian A. Webb
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Manuel Kuhn
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eylül Akman
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Sydney A. Jobson
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Isabelle M. Rosso
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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6
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Lewis MW, Bradford DE, Pace-Schott EF, Rauch SL, Rosso IM. Multiverse analyses of fear acquisition and extinction retention in posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14265. [PMID: 36786400 PMCID: PMC10330173 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Persistent fear is a cardinal feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and deficient fear extinction retention is a proposed illness mechanism and target of exposure-based therapy. However, evidence for deficient fear extinction in PTSD has been mixed using laboratory paradigms, which may relate to underidentified methodological variation across studies. We reviewed the literature to identify parameters that differ across studies of fear extinction retention in PTSD. We then performed Multiverse Analysis in a new sample, to quantify the impact of those methodological parameters on statistical findings. In 25 PTSD patients (15 female) and 36 trauma-exposed non-PTSD controls (TENC) (20 female), we recorded skin conductance response (SCR) during fear acquisition and extinction learning (day 1) and extinction recall (day 2). A first Multiverse Analysis examined the effects of methodological parameters identified by the literature review on comparisons of SCR-based fear extinction retention in PTSD versus TENC. A second Multiverse Analysis examined the effects of those methodological parameters on comparisons of SCR to a danger cue (CS+) versus safety cue (CS-) during fear acquisition. Both the literature review and the Multiverse Analysis yielded inconsistent findings for fear extinction retention in PTSD versus TENC, and most analyses found no statistically significant group difference. By contrast, significantly elevated SCR to CS+ versus CS- was consistently found across all analyses in the literature review and the Multiverse Analysis of new data. We discuss methodological parameters that may most contribute to inconsistent findings of fear extinction retention deficit in PTSD and implications for future clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Lewis
- McLean Hospital, Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
| | | | - Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry
| | - Scott L. Rauch
- McLean Hospital, Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
| | - Isabelle M. Rosso
- McLean Hospital, Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
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7
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Battaglia S, Di Fazio C, Vicario CM, Avenanti A. Neuropharmacological Modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate, Noradrenaline and Endocannabinoid Receptors in Fear Extinction Learning: Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065926. [PMID: 36983000 PMCID: PMC10053024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Learning to recognize and respond to potential threats is crucial for survival. Pavlovian threat conditioning represents a key paradigm for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of fear learning. In this review, we address the role of specific neuropharmacological adjuvants that act on neurochemical synaptic transmission, as well as on brain plasticity processes implicated in fear memory. We focus on novel neuropharmacological manipulations targeting glutamatergic, noradrenergic, and endocannabinoid systems, and address how the modulation of these neurobiological systems affects fear extinction learning in humans. We show that the administration of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) agonists and modulation of the endocannabinoid system by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibition can boost extinction learning through the stabilization and regulation of the receptor concentration. On the other hand, elevated noradrenaline levels dynamically modulate fear learning, hindering long-term extinction processes. These pharmacological interventions could provide novel targeted treatments and prevention strategies for fear-based and anxiety-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Battaglia
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Fazio
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Carmelo M Vicario
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università Degli Studi di Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Neuropsicology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center (CINPSI Neurocog), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile
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8
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Finke JB, Stalder T, Klucken T. Pupil dilation tracks divergent learning processes in aware versus unaware Pavlovian conditioning. Psychophysiology 2023:e14288. [PMID: 36906907 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14288] [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: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Evidence regarding unaware differential fear conditioning in humans is mixed and even less is known about the effects of contingency awareness on appetitive conditioning. Phasic pupil dilation responses (PDR) might be more sensitive for capturing implicit learning than other measures, such as skin conductance responses (SCR). Here, we report data from two delay conditioning experiments utilizing PDR (alongside SCR and subjective assessments) to investigate the role of contingency awareness in aversive and appetitive conditioning. In both experiments, valence of unconditioned stimuli (UCS) was varied within participants by administering aversive (mild electric shocks) and appetitive UCSs (monetary rewards). Preceding visual stimuli (CSs) predicted either the reward, the shock (65% reinforcement), or neither UCS. In Exp. 1, participants were fully instructed about CS-UCS contingencies, whereas in Exp. 2, no such information was given. PDR and SCR demonstrated successful differential conditioning in Exp. 1 and in (learned) aware participants in Exp. 2. In non-instructed participants who remained fully unaware of contingencies (Exp. 2), differential modulation of early PDR (immediately after CS onset) by appetitive cues emerged. Associations with model-derived learning parameters further suggest that early PDR in unaware participants mainly reflect implicit learning of expected outcome value, whereas early PDR in aware (instructed/learned-aware) participants presumably index attentional processes (related to uncertainty/prediction error processing). Similar, but less clear results emerged for later PDR (preceding UCS onset). Our data argue in favor of a dual-process account of associative learning, suggesting that value-related processing can take place irrespective of mechanisms involved in conscious memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes B Finke
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
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9
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Friesen E, Sopp MR, Cordi MJ, Rasch B, Michael T. Sleep-Directed Hypnosis Improves Subjective Sleep Quality but not Extinction Memory After Exposure to Analog Trauma. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-022-10345-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Evidence-based treatments of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) aim to promote fear extinction learning. Post-learning sleep, particularly slow wave sleep (SWS), promotes memory consolidation and recall. Thus, boosting SWS might strengthen extinction recall. The current study investigated whether sleep-directed hypnosis designed to increase SWS and sleep quality improves extinction recall and reduces analog PTSD symptoms.
Method
In two subsamples (remote/laboratory), 211 healthy individuals underwent fear conditioning with a traumatic film clip. On the next evening, they underwent extinction training. Thereafter, the experimental group received sleep-directed hypnosis, whereas the control group listened to a control text. Extinction recall and generalization and film-related intrusions and rumination were assessed on the following morning.
Results
Subjective sleep quality declined following exposure to an aversive film. No group differences were found in SWS though exploratory analyses indicated less rapid eye movement sleep after hypnosis. After hypnosis, the experimental group reported improved sleep quality, whereas the control group showed a further deterioration. Hypnosis had no effects on extinction retention and generalization nor on analog intrusions and rumination.
Conclusion
The current results indicate that sleep-directed hypnosis may be beneficial for improving subjective sleep quality after trauma but not for enhancing extinction memory and reducing analog PTSD symptoms.
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10
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Cooper SE, Dunsmoor JE, Koval KA, Pino ER, Steinman SA. Test–retest
reliability of human threat conditioning and generalization across a
1‐to‐2‐week
interval. Psychophysiology 2022; 60:e14242. [PMID: 36546410 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Given the increasing use of threat conditioning and generalization for clinical-translational research efforts, establishing test-retest reliability of these paradigms is necessary. Specifically, it is an empirical question whether the same participant evinces a similar generalization gradient of conditioned responses across two sessions with the identical contingencies and stimuli. Here, 46 human volunteers participated in an identical auditory threat acquisition and generalization protocol at two sessions separated by 1-to-2 weeks. Skin conductance responses (SCR) and trial-by-trial shock risk ratings served as primary measures. We used linear mixed effects modeling to test differential threat responses and generalization gradients, and Generalizability (G) theory coefficients as our primary formal assessment of test-retest reliability of intraindividual stability and change across time. Results showed largely invariant differential conditioning and generalization gradients across time. G coefficients indicated fair reliability for acquisition and generalization SCR. In contrast, risk rating reliabilities were mixed, and reliability was particularly low for acquisition risk ratings. Our findings generally support reliability of the threat conditioning and generalization paradigm for shorter test-retest intervals and highlight their utility for assessments of behavioral interventions in mental health research, but challenges remain and further work is needed. Threat conditioning and generalization tasks are increasingly used for translational efforts to improve behavioral interventions, and thus test-retest reliability for these tasks needs to be established. Our results support the test-retest reliability of threat conditioning and generalization over a relatively short (1-to-2 week) interval, but this depends on the measure used (physiological vs. self-report). Overall, these tasks could be appropriate for repeated testing over the course of a short-duration intervention study, but more research is needed, particularly in regard to longer-duration studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Cooper
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Joseph E. Dunsmoor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
- Institute for Neuroscience University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Kathleen A. Koval
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Emma R. Pino
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
| | - Shari A. Steinman
- Department of Psychology West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USA
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11
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Sjouwerman R, Illius S, Kuhn M, Lonsdorf TB. A data multiverse analysis investigating non-model based SCR quantification approaches. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14130. [PMID: 35780077 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Electrodermal signals are commonly used outcome measures in research on arousal, emotion, and habituation. Recently, we reported on heterogeneity in skin conductance response quantification approaches and its impact on replicability. Here we provide complementary work focusing on within-approach heterogeneity of specifications for skin conductance response quantification. We focus on heterogeneity within the baseline-correction approach (BLC) which appeared as particularly heterogeneous-for instance with respect to the pre-CS baseline window duration, the start, and end of the peak detection window. We systematically scrutinize the robustness of results when applying different BLC approach specifications to one representative pre-existing data set (N = 118) in a (partly) pre-registered study. We report high agreement between different BLC approaches for US and CS+ trials, but moderate to poor agreement for CS- trials. Furthermore, a specification curve of the main effect of CS discrimination during fear acquisition training from all potential and reasonable combinations of specifications (N = 150) and a prototypical trough-to-peak (TTP) approach indicates that resulting effect sizes are largely comparable. A second specification curve (N = 605 specific combinations) highlights a strong impact of different transformation types. Crucially, however, we show that BLC approaches often misclassify the peak value-particularly for CS- trials, leading to stimulus-specific biases and challenges for post-processing and replicability of CS discrimination across studies applying different approaches. Lastly, we investigate how negative skin conductance values in BLC, appearing most frequently for CS- (CS- > CS+ > US), correspond to values in TTP quantification. We discuss the results considering prospects and challenges of the multiverse approach and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Sjouwerman
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Illius
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Kuhn
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress, Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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12
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Battaglia S, Orsolini S, Borgomaneri S, Barbieri R, Diciotti S, di Pellegrino G. Characterizing cardiac autonomic dynamics of fear learning in humans. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14122. [PMID: 35671393 PMCID: PMC9787647 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding transient dynamics of the autonomic nervous system during fear learning remains a critical step to translate basic research into treatment of fear-related disorders. In humans, it has been demonstrated that fear learning typically elicits transient heart rate deceleration. However, classical analyses of heart rate variability (HRV) fail to disentangle the contribution of parasympathetic and sympathetic systems, and crucially, they are not able to capture phasic changes during fear learning. Here, to gain deeper insight into the physiological underpinnings of fear learning, a novel frequency-domain analysis of heart rate was performed using a short-time Fourier transform, and instantaneous spectral estimates extracted from a point-process modeling algorithm. We tested whether spectral transient components of HRV, used as a noninvasive probe of sympathetic and parasympathetic mechanisms, can dissociate between fear conditioned and neutral stimuli. We found that learned fear elicited a transient heart rate deceleration in anticipation of noxious stimuli. Crucially, results revealed a significant increase in spectral power in the high frequency band when facing the conditioned stimulus, indicating increased parasympathetic (vagal) activity, which distinguished conditioned and neutral stimuli during fear learning. Our findings provide a proximal measure of the involvement of cardiac vagal dynamics into the psychophysiology of fear learning and extinction, thus offering new insights for the characterization of fear in mental health and illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Battaglia
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive NeuroscienceUniversity of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Stefano Orsolini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information EngineeringUniversity of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Sara Borgomaneri
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive NeuroscienceUniversity of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Riccardo Barbieri
- Department of Electronics, Information and BioengineeringPolitecnico di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Stefano Diciotti
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information EngineeringUniversity of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Giuseppe di Pellegrino
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Studies and Research in Cognitive NeuroscienceUniversity of BolognaCesenaItaly
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13
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Kuhn M, Gerlicher AMV, Lonsdorf TB. Navigating the manyverse of skin conductance response quantification approaches - A direct comparison of trough-to-peak, baseline correction, and model-based approaches in Ledalab and PsPM. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14058. [PMID: 35365863 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Raw data are typically required to be processed to be ready for statistical analyses, and processing pipelines are often characterized by substantial heterogeneity. Here, we applied seven different approaches (trough-to-peak scoring by two different raters, script-based baseline correction, Ledalab as well as four different models implemented in the software PsPM) to two fear conditioning data sets. Selection of the approaches included was guided by a systematic literature search by using fear conditioning research as a case example. Our approach can be viewed as a set of robustness analyses (i.e., same data subjected to different processing pipelines) aiming to investigate if and to what extent these different quantification approaches yield comparable results given the same data. To our knowledge, no formal framework for the evaluation of robustness analyses exists to date, but we may borrow some criteria from a framework suggested for the evaluation of "replicability" in general. Our results from seven different SCR quantification approaches applied to two data sets with different paradigms suggest that there may be no single approach that consistently yields larger effect sizes and could be universally considered "best." Yet, at least some of the approaches employed show consistent effect sizes within each data set indicating comparability. Finally, we highlight substantial heterogeneity also within most quantification approaches and discuss implications and potential remedies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Kuhn
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna M V Gerlicher
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Vinberg K, Rosén J, Kastrati G, Ahs F. Whole brain correlates of individual differences in skin conductance responses during discriminative fear conditioning to social cues. eLife 2022; 11:69686. [PMID: 36413209 PMCID: PMC9721615 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the neural basis for individual differences in the skin conductance response (SCR) during discriminative fear conditioning may inform on our understanding of autonomic regulation in fear-related psychopathology. Previous region-of-interest (ROI) analyses have implicated the amygdala in regulating conditioned SCR, but whole brain analyses are lacking. This study examined correlations between individual differences in SCR during discriminative fear conditioning to social stimuli and neural activity throughout the brain, by using data from a large functional magnetic resonance imaging study of twins (N = 285 individuals). Results show that conditioned SCR correlates with activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex/anterior midcingulate cortex, anterior insula, bilateral temporoparietal junction, right frontal operculum, bilateral dorsal premotor cortex, right superior parietal lobe, and midbrain. A ROI analysis additionally showed a positive correlation between amygdala activity and conditioned SCR in line with previous reports. We suggest that the observed whole brain correlates of SCR belong to a large-scale midcingulo-insular network related to salience detection and autonomic-interoceptive processing. Altered activity within this network may underlie individual differences in conditioned SCR and autonomic aspects of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Vinberg
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden UniversityÖstersundSweden
| | - Jörgen Rosén
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden UniversityÖstersundSweden,Department of Psychology, Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Granit Kastrati
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden UniversityÖstersundSweden,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Fredrik Ahs
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden UniversityÖstersundSweden
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