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Günther V, Strukova M, Pecher J, Webelhorst C, Engelmann S, Kersting A, Hoffmann KT, Egloff B, Okon-Singer H, Lobsien D, Suslow T. Cognitive Avoidance Is Associated with Decreased Brain Responsiveness to Threat Distractors under High Perceptual Load. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040618. [PMID: 37190583 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040618] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive coping strategies to deal with anxiety-provoking events have an impact on mental and physical health. Dispositional vigilance is characterized by an increased analysis of the threatening environment, whereas cognitive avoidance comprises strategies to inhibit threat processing. To date, functional neuroimaging studies on the neural underpinnings of these coping styles are scarce and have revealed discrepant findings. In the present study, we examined automatic brain responsiveness as a function of coping styles using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We administered a perceptual load paradigm with contemptuous and fearful faces as distractor stimuli in a sample of N = 43 healthy participants. The Mainz Coping Inventory was used to assess cognitive avoidance and vigilance. An association of cognitive avoidance with reduced contempt and fear processing under high perceptual load was observed in a widespread network including the amygdala, thalamus, cingulate gyrus, insula, and frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital areas. Our findings indicate that the dispositional tendency to divert one's attention away from distressing stimuli is a valuable predictor of diminished automatic neural responses to threat in several cortical and subcortical areas. A reduced processing in brain regions involved in emotion perception and attention might indicate a potential threat resilience associated with cognitive avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Günther
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mariia Strukova
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jonas Pecher
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Webelhorst
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Engelmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anette Kersting
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karl-Titus Hoffmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Boris Egloff
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hadas Okon-Singer
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3100000, Israel
| | - Donald Lobsien
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Suslow
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Günther V, Jahn S, Webelhorst C, Bodenschatz CM, Bujanow A, Mucha S, Kersting A, Hoffmann KT, Egloff B, Lobsien D, Suslow T. Coping With Anxiety: Brain Structural Correlates of Vigilance and Cognitive Avoidance. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:869367. [PMID: 35463500 PMCID: PMC9021612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.869367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals differ in their dispositional coping behavior when they are confronted with anxiety-provoking situations. Cognitive avoidance is characterized by a withdrawal from threatening information, whereas vigilance denotes the intensive search for threat-related information. Functional neuroimaging studies indicate alterations in brain responsivity to emotional stimuli as a function of cognitive avoidant and vigilant coping, but findings are partially discrepant. Studies on structural correlates of coping styles are scarce. Materials and Methods By using structural magnetic resonance imaging, the present study examined the relationship between brain gray matter volume and coping strategies in 114 healthy individuals. Individual differences in vigilance and cognitive avoidance were measured by the Mainz Coping Inventory. Results Exploratory whole-brain analyses were conducted. Cognitive avoidant coping significantly predicted reduced gray matter volume in the bilateral thalamus, whereas vigilant coping was associated with volumetric increases in the bilateral thalamus. These relationships remained significant when controlling for a potential influence of age, sex, depressive symptoms, and trait anxiety. Discussion Our findings indicate that dispositional strategies to deal with anxiety-provoking situations are related to volumetric alterations in the thalamus, a brain structure that has been implicated in the mediation of attentional processes and alertness, and the anticipation of harm. The dispositional tendency to monitor the environment for potential threats (i.e., vigilance), appears to be associated with volumetric increases in the thalamus, whereas the dispositional inclination to divert one's attention away from distressing stimuli (i.e., cognitive avoidance) seems to go along with reductions in thalamic gray matter density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Günther
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Salome Jahn
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Webelhorst
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Charlott Maria Bodenschatz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Bujanow
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Mucha
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anette Kersting
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karl-Titus Hoffmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Boris Egloff
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Donald Lobsien
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Suslow
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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Leehr EJ, Redlich R, Zaremba D, Dohm K, Böhnlein J, Grotegerd D, Kähler C, Repple J, Förster K, Opel N, Meinert S, Enneking V, Bürger C, Hahn T, Wilkens E, Dernbecher M, Kugel H, Arolt V, Dannlowski U. Structural and functional neural correlates of vigilant and avoidant regulation style. J Affect Disord 2019; 258:96-101. [PMID: 31400629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulation of emotional arousal is a relevant factor for mental health. The investigation of neural underpinnings of regulation styles in healthy individuals may provide important insights regarding potential risk factors. To fill the gap of structural correlates of regulation styles and to expand previous results, we focused on the association between brain structure, neural responsiveness and vigilant/avoidant regulation style. METHODS In n = 302 healthy individuals regulation style was assessed with the Mainz Coping Inventory (MCI). Participants underwent structural and functional MRI during an emotion-processing paradigm. Structural MRI (voxel-based morphometry) and functional MRI were analysed in two regions of interest (amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]). RESULTS Regulation styles did not show an association with brain structure after correction for gender, age, trait anxiety, depressive symptoms. During emotion processing, a vigilant regulation style was negatively associated with ACC activation. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional study in a non-pathological sample is not adequate to unveil causalities or draw conclusions regarding prevention interventions. CONCLUSION Regulation styles are associated with specific neural activation patterns. The association of a high-vigilant regulation style and low ACC activation during emotion processing in healthy participants might be a potential risk factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth J Leehr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
| | - Ronny Redlich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Dario Zaremba
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Katharina Dohm
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Joscha Böhnlein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Dominik Grotegerd
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Claas Kähler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Jonathan Repple
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Katharina Förster
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Susanne Meinert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Verena Enneking
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Bürger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Tim Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Elena Wilkens
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Marius Dernbecher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G A1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer-Campus 1, G 9A, 48149 Muenster, Germany
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Shortland ND, Palasinski M. Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Which Is the Most Convincing of Them All? Exploring Anti-Domestic Violence Posters. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2019; 34:1755-1771. [PMID: 27357088 DOI: 10.1177/0886260516654931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Although domestic abuse of women by men has received significant media, police, and research attention, domestic violence directed toward men has been marginalized across the board and is still rarely treated seriously. The purpose of this research, then, is to examine and compare different anti-domestic violence messages in which the abuser's gender is not always clear. In Study 1, 200 U.K. participants (100 females and 100 males, aged 18-67, M = 28.98, SD = 9.613) evaluated posters that varied across three levels; in that the subject (male or female) was depicted as being silenced, bruised, or experiencing live abuse. The results showed that the posters featuring female victims were all rated as more effective than posters showing male victims. In Study 2, 140 different U.K. participants (95 females; 45 males) aged 18 to 59 ( M = 27.27, SD = 10.662) evaluated the cartoon facial images of Disney characters who had been altered to look like victims of violence and real-life corresponding photos of human models. The results showed that the realistic posters were found to be more believable, emotional, and effective than the cartoons. The implications of such perceptions are discussed.
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Klucken T, Kruse O, Schweckendiek J, Stark R. Increased skin conductance responses and neural activity during fear conditioning are associated with a repressive coping style. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:132. [PMID: 26082695 PMCID: PMC4451418 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The investigation of individual differences in coping styles in response to fear conditioning is an important issue for a better understanding of the etiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It has been assumed that an avoidant (repressive) coping style is characterized by increased emotion regulation efforts in context of fear stimuli as compared to a more vigilant coping style. However, no study so far has investigated the neural correlates of fear conditioning of repressors and sensitizers. In the present fMRI study, 76 participants were classified as repressors or as sensitizers and were exposed to a fear conditioning paradigm, in which the CS+ predicted electrical stimulation, while another neutral stimulus (CS-) did not. In addition, skin conductance responses (SCRs) were measured continuously. As the main findings, we found increased neural activity in repressors as compared to sensitizers in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during fear conditioning. In addition, elevated activity to the CS+ in amygdala, insula, occipital, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) as well as elevated conditioned SCRs were found in repressors. The present results demonstrate increased neural activations in structures linked to emotion down-regulation mechanisms like the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which may reflect the increased coping effort in repressors. At the same time, repressors showed increased activations in arousal and evaluation-associated structures like the amygdala, the occipital cortex (OCC), and the OFC, which was mirrored in increased SCRs. The present results support recent assumptions about a two-process model of repression postulating a fast vigilant response to fear stimuli, and a second process associated with the down-regulation of emotional responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany ; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany ; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany
| | - Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany ; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany ; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen Giessen, Germany
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