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Chua J, Sündermann O. Attenuating experimentally acquired disgust: Comparing counterconditioning, exposure and unconditioned stimulus revaluation. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 79:101813. [PMID: 36496272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Disgust is implicated in the aetiology and maintenance of various psychopathologies such as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Despite its prominent role in psychopathology, little is known about how to effectively attenuate disgust. The study examined strategies to modify an experimentally acquired disgust response in a sample of undergraduate students. METHODS A conditioning paradigm was used where participants (N = 175) first underwent acquisition of disgust via repeated presentations of a neutral picture (functioning as conditioned stimulus + [CS+]) paired with a disgusting picture (functioning as unconditioned stimulus [US]). Participants were then randomly assigned to either an exposure (repeated presentation of CS-only trials), counterconditioning (pairing CS+ with pleasant pictures), US revaluation (pairing disgusting US with pleasant pictures) or a control (filler task) condition. We hypothesised that counterconditioning would attenuate evaluative learned disgust to the greatest extent, relative to exposure and US revaluation. Participants' evaluations of the pictures were attained with a disgust-pleasantness visual analogue scale. RESULTS Exposure, counterconditioning and US revaluation reduced disgusting US expectancies. However, experimental and control conditions did not differ in terms of attenuating disgust towards CS+. LIMITATIONS Measures of psychopathology and implicit evaluations of disgust were not collected. Modest power might have limited significance of the results. CONCLUSIONS No statistical support for the effectiveness of disgust attenuation following exposure nor counterconditioning were found. Findings for US revaluation are inconclusive. Implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Chua
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Oliver Sündermann
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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2
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Abstract
Evaluative conditioning (EC) research investigates changes in the evaluation of a stimulus after co-occurrence with an affective stimulus. To explain the motivation behind this research, this review begins with an overview of the history of EC research, followed by a summary of the state of the art with respect to three key questions. First, how should EC procedures be used to influence evaluation? We provide a guide based on evidence concerning the functional properties of EC effects. Second, how does the EC effect occur? We discuss the possible mediating cognitive processes and their automaticity. Third, are EC effects ubiquitous outside the lab? We discuss the evidence for the external validity of EC research. We conclude that the most important open questions pertain to the relevance of EC to everyday life and to the level of control that characterizes the processes that mediate the EC effect after people notice the stimulus co-occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Moran
- Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Ra'anana, Israel; .,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yahel Nudler
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel: ,
| | - Yoav Bar-Anan
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel: ,
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3
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Stark R, Markert C, Kruse O, Walter B, Strahler J, Klein S. Individual cortisol response to acute stress influences neural processing of sexual cues. J Behav Addict 2022; 11:506-519. [PMID: 35895611 PMCID: PMC9295234 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2022.00037] [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: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Problematic pornography use can be conceptualized as an impulse control disorder or alternatively as a behavioral addiction. Stress is an important trigger in addiction, but less is known about the neural effect of stress in problematic pornography use. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the effect of stress during the anticipation and viewing of sexually explicit material while considering person characteristics related to potentially being at risk for developing problematic pornography use. METHODS In an fMRI study (n = 157 men, age: mean = 25.46, SD = 4.11) we used a sexual incentive delay task. A social stress test was used to induce stress in half of the participants. Salivary cortisol was repeatedly measured and person characteristics were considered moderating the effects of cortisol response. RESULTS We found no group differences in the neural responses during the anticipation phase, but a higher reactivity to sexual stimuli in the dACC in the stress group. Acute stress activated a pronounced cortisol response, which positively correlated with neural activations in the reward system (NAcc, dACC) to sexual cues. Further, the individual time spent on pornography use moderated the effect of cortisol in some regions of the reward system (dACC, mOFC). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that acute stress related increases in cortisol can enhance the incentive value of cues announcing sexual stimuli. This might explain why acute stress is considered a trigger of pornography use and relapse and why individual stress response might be a risk factor for developing a problematic pornography use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany,Corresponding author. E-mail:
| | - Charlotte Markert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany
| | - Bertram Walter
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
| | - Jana Strahler
- Sportpsychology, Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sanja Klein
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
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4
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Visvalingam S, Crone C, Street S, Oar EL, Gilchrist P, Norberg MM. The causes and consequences of shame in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behav Res Ther 2022; 151:104064. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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5
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Exner A, Tapia León I, Mueller EM, Klucken T. Cardiac response in aversive and appetitive olfactory conditioning: Evidence for a valence-independent CS-elicited bradycardia. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13912. [PMID: 34388264 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13912] [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: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While the examination of conditioned cardiac responses is well established in human fear conditioning research, comparable studies using less-aversive or rather appetitive unconditioned stimuli (UCS) are sparse and results are mixed. Therefore, the aim of this study was a systematic analysis of cardiac reactions in aversive and appetitive conditioning. Olfactory stimuli were used as unconditioned stimuli as they are suitable reinforcers in both an aversive and an appetitive conditioning offering the opportunity for a comparison between conditioned responses. In total, n = 86 participants took part in both an aversive and an appetitive differential conditioning task with a counterbalanced order across participants. Aversive or appetitive odors, respectively, served as UCS and neutral geometrical figures as CS. Subjective ratings, skin conductance response (SCRs), and evoked cardiac reactions were analyzed and compared between tasks. Conditioned responses in subjective ratings could be observed in both aversive conditioning and appetitive conditioning, while SCRs discriminated between CS+ and CS- in aversive conditioning only. Regarding conditioned cardiac responses, the deceleration for the CS+ was longer than for the CS- in both tasks. In addition, a higher deceleration magnitude and a shorter acceleration for the CS+ as compared to the CS- were found in aversive but not in appetitive conditioning. There were medium-size correlations between aversive and appetitive CRs for subjective ratings and none for physiological responses. The results suggest similarities between cardiac response patterns in aversive and appetitive conditioning, which implies that bradycardia in conditioning might not be fear-specific but presents a valence-independent CS-elicited bradycardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Exner
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Erik M Mueller
- Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
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6
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Novara C, Lebrun C, Macgregor A, Vivet B, Thérouanne P, Capdevielle D, Raffard S. Acquisition and maintenance of disgust reactions in an OCD analogue sample: Efficiency of extinction strategies through a counter-conditioning procedure. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254592. [PMID: 34260646 PMCID: PMC8279387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has long been considered as an anxiety disorder, disgust is the dominant emotion in contamination-based OCD. However, disgust seems resistant to exposure with response prevention partly due to the fact that disgust is acquired through evaluative conditioning. AIMS The present research investigates a counter-conditioning intervention in treating disgust-related emotional responses in two groups of individuals with high (High contamination concerns, HCC, n = 24) and low (Low contamination concerns LCC, n = 23) contamination concerns. METHODS The two groups completed a differential associative learning task in which neutral images were followed by disgusting images (conditioned stimulus; CS+), or not (CS-). Following this acquisition phase, there was a counter-conditioning procedure in which CS+ was followed by a very pleasant unconditional stimulus while CS- remained unreinforced. RESULTS Following counter-conditioning, both groups reported significant reduction in their expectancy of US occurrence and reported less disgust with CS+. For both expectancy and disgust, reduction was lower in the HCC group than in the LCC group. Disgust sensitivity was highly correlated with both acquisition and maintenance of the response acquired, while US expectation was predicted by anxiety. CONCLUSION Counter-conditioning procedure reduces both expectations and conditioned disgust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Novara
- Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Univ. Montpellier, EPSYLON EA 4556, Montpellier, France
- Groupe Ramsay Gds, Clinique RECH, Montpellier, France
| | - Cindy Lebrun
- Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Univ. Montpellier, EPSYLON EA 4556, Montpellier, France
| | - Alexandra Macgregor
- Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie Adulte, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Vivet
- Groupe Ramsay Gds, Clinique RECH, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Delphine Capdevielle
- Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie Adulte, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephane Raffard
- Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Univ. Montpellier, EPSYLON EA 4556, Montpellier, France
- Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie Adulte, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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7
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Markert C, Klein S, Strahler J, Kruse O, Stark R. Sexual incentive delay in the scanner: Sexual cue and reward processing, and links to problematic porn consumption and sexual motivation. J Behav Addict 2021; 10:65-76. [PMID: 33822748 PMCID: PMC8969854 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2021.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The use of pornography, while unproblematic for the majority, can grow into addiction-like behavior which in its extreme form is labeled as compulsive sexual behavioral disorder in the ICD-11 (WHO, 2018). The aim of this study was to investigate the addiction-specific reactivity to cues in order to better understand underlying mechanisms in the development of this disorder. METHODS We have used an optimized Sexual Incentive Delay Task to study brain activity in reward associated brain areas during an anticipation phase (with cues predicting pornographic videos, control videos or no videos) and a corresponding delivery phase in healthy men. Correlations to indicators of problematic pornography use, the time spent on pornography use, and trait sexual motivation were analyzed. RESULTS The results of 74 men showed that reward-related brain areas (amygdala, dorsal cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, and insula) were significantly more activated by both the pornographic videos and the pornographic cues than by control videos and control cues, respectively. However, we found no relationship between these activations and indicators of problematic pornography use, time spent on pornography use, or with trait sexual motivation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The activity in reward-related brain areas to both visual sexual stimuli as well as cues indicates that optimization of the Sexual Incentive Delay Task was successful. Presumably, associations between reward-related brain activity and indicators for problematic or pathological pornography use might only occur in samples with increased levels and not in a rather healthy sample used in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Markert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging (BION), University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany,Corresponding author E-mail:
| | - Sanja Klein
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging (BION), University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
| | - Jana Strahler
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging (BION), University of Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging (BION), University of Giessen, Germany,Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, University of Giessen, Germany,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging (BION), University of Giessen, Germany,Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
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8
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Anderson LM, Berg H, Brown TA, Menzel J, Reilly EE. The Role of Disgust in Eating Disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:4. [PMID: 33404776 PMCID: PMC7895454 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-020-01217-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In current review, we evaluate the current literature examining the role of disgust in eating disorders (EDs), and provide a theoretical model designed to inform the study and treatment of disgust-based symptoms in EDs. RECENT FINDINGS Findings from this review suggest that aberrant disgust-conditioning processes represent promising but understudied mechanisms that may contribute to the risk and maintenance of core eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. In addition, preliminary evidence supports the use of interventions designed to target aversive disgust cues and disrupt maladaptive disgust-based conditioning that may maintain eating pathology. However, experimental studies designed to elucidate the role of disgust and aversive learning processes remain limited. Disgust is a promising risk and maintenance factor in EDs. Future systematic investigation is needed to examine disgust-based processes at a mechanistic level in order to better understand the links between disgust, avoidance behaviors, and EDs. Further investigation of the mechanistic role of disgust in EDs is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Anderson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 2450 Riverside Avenue South, F229, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Hannah Berg
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, N218 Elliott Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tiffany A. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California - San Diego, 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 315, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jessie Menzel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California - San Diego, 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 315, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Erin E. Reilly
- Department of Psychology, Hofstra University, 210 Hauser Hall, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
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9
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Klein S, Kruse O, Markert C, Tapia León I, Strahler J, Stark R. Subjective reward value of visual sexual stimuli is coded in human striatum and orbitofrontal cortex. Behav Brain Res 2020; 393:112792. [PMID: 32598998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Human neuroimaging research suggests the existence of one core network for the subjective valuation of rewards, including the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex. However, there is little research on the neural representation of subjective reward values of visual sexual stimuli (VSS) and on the role of these subjective valuations in the development of related addictive behaviors. Here, we investigate how neural reactivity to VSS is connected to individual preference using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During the fMRI scan, 72 men viewed different VSS film clips. Ratings regarding valence and sexual arousal were collected and used as parametric modulators in the fMRI analysis. Subjects also filled out questionnaires on self-reported symptoms of problematic pornography use (PPU). Firstly, we found that neural reactivity towards VSS clips in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and orbitofrontal cortex was positively correlated with individual ratings of the respective VSS in all subjects. Second, the strength of the association between neural activity and sexual arousal ratings was positively correlated with self-reported symptoms of PPU. The first result suggests a precise appraisal of VSS according to individual preferences in established reward valuation regions. Secondly, stronger neural differentiation based on preference in participants with more PPU symptoms indicates an increased importance of VSS/preference fit in these individuals. This heightened correspondence between individual liking and neural activity may facilitate PPU development by increased signaling of incentive salience, thus boosting motivation to seek out and respond to these preferred stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Klein
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, 57076 Siegen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Markert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, 57076 Siegen, Germany
| | - Jana Strahler
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Giessen, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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10
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Keller NE, Hennings AC, Dunsmoor JE. Behavioral and neural processes in counterconditioning: Past and future directions. Behav Res Ther 2020; 125:103532. [PMID: 31881357 PMCID: PMC6983350 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Counterconditioning refers both to the technique and putative process by which behavior is modified through a new association with a stimulus of an opposite valence. Similar to extinction, counterconditioning is considered a form of inhibition that interferes with the expression of the originally learned response without erasing it. But whereas interest in extinction continues to rise, counterconditioning has received far less attention. Here, we provide an in-depth review of counterconditioning research and detail whether counterconditioning is any more effective than extinction at preventing relapse of the originally learned behavior. We consider the clinical implications of counterconditioning, describe recent neurobiological and neuroimaging research in this area, and consider future avenues in need of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Keller
- University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Augustin C Hennings
- University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Joseph E Dunsmoor
- University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychiatry, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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11
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Kruse O, Klein S, Tapia León I, Stark R, Klucken T. Amygdala and nucleus accumbens involvement in appetitive extinction. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:1833-1841. [PMID: 31909526 PMCID: PMC7267974 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Extinction of appetitive conditioning is regarded as an important model for the treatment of psychiatric disorders like addiction. However, very few studies have investigated its neural correlates. Therefore, we investigated neural correlates of appetitive extinction in a large human sample including all genders (N = 76, 40 females) to replicate and extend results from a previous study. During differential appetitive conditioning, one stimulus (CS+) was paired with the chance to win a monetary reward, whereas another stimulus (CS−) was not. During appetitive extinction on the next day, neither the CS+ nor the CS− were reinforced. After successful acquisition of appetitive conditioning, the extinction phase elicited significant reductions of valence and arousal ratings toward the CS+ and a significant reduction in skin conductance responses to the CS+ from early to late extinction. On a neural level, early extinction showed significant differential (CS+ − CS−) activation in dACC and hippocampus, whereas involvement of the vACC and caudate nucleus did not replicate. The differential activation of amygdala and nucleus accumbens during late extinction was replicated, with the amygdala displaying significantly higher differential activation during the late phase of extinction as compared to the early phase of extinction. We show discernible signals for reward learning and extinction in subregions of amygdala and nucleus accumbens after extinction learning. This successful replication underlines the role of nucleus accumbens and amygdala in neural models of appetitive extinction in humans that was previously only based on animal findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onno Kruse
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sanja Klein
- Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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12
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Klein S, Kruse O, Tapia León I, Stalder T, Stark R, Klucken T. Increased neural reactivity to emotional pictures in men with high hair testosterone concentrations. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2019; 14:1009-1016. [PMID: 31506704 PMCID: PMC6917022 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone has been linked to alterations in the activity of emotion neurocircuitry including amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and insula and diminished functional amygdala/prefrontal coupling. Such associations have only ever been studied using acute measures of testosterone, thus little is known about respective relationships with long-term testosterone secretion. Here, we examine associations between hair testosterone concentration (HTC), an index of long-term cumulative testosterone levels and neural reactivity during an emotional passive viewing task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Forty-six men viewed negative, positive and neutral pictures in the MRI. HTCs were assessed from 2 cm hair segments. The emotional paradigm elicited neural activation in the amygdala, insula and OFC. HTCs were associated with increased reactivity to negative pictures in the insula and increased reactivity to positive pictures in the OFC. We show an association of long-term testosterone levels with increased emotional reactivity in the brain. These results suggest a heightened emotional vigilance in individuals with high trait testosterone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Klein
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen 57076, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen 57076, Germany
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen 57076, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35394, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Clinical Psychology, University Siegen, Siegen 57076, Germany
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13
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Klucken T, Kruse O, Klein S, Kampa M, Tapia León I, Stark R. The relationship between neuroticism and appetitive conditioning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 164:107068. [PMID: 31415871 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107068] [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: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Appetitive conditioning is considered a central mechanism for the vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. However, the investigation of individual differences that are related to altered appetitive learning has been almost neglected so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between neuroticism and appetitive conditioning processes. 79 subjects participated in a differential conditioning procedure in which a conditioned stimulus (CS+) was paired with a reward (money) after a fast behavioral response, while a second conditioned stimulus (CS-) was never followed by a reward, irrespective of the behavioral response. As a main result, neuroticism correlated negatively with the underlying neural processes of appetitive conditioning in females, but not in males. In detail, higher levels of neuroticism were associated with decreased neural responses in the left (p = .001) and right amygdala (p = .011), left (p = .063) and right (p = .019) nucleus accumbens, and left (p = .002) and right (p = .021) orbitofrontal cortex (all results are family-wise-error-corrected). The present results support previous findings, which also showed an inverse sex-specific effect in the context of neuroticism and emotional processing in females. In addition, the findings suggest that neuroticism is not solely linked to increased amygdala sensitivity during the processing of negative stimuli but also to decreased neural responses when processing rewarding stimuli. Possible explanations for the sex differences and implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
| | - Sanja Klein
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Miriam Kampa
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
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Stark R, Klein S, Kruse O, Weygandt M, Leufgens LK, Schweckendiek J, Strahler J. No Sex Difference Found: Cues of Sexual Stimuli Activate the Reward System in both Sexes. Neuroscience 2019; 416:63-73. [PMID: 31394197 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Sexually explicit material (SEM) is increasingly used in western societies. One reason for this high usage might be the rewarding property of SEM demonstrated in many brain imaging studies showing an activation of the reward system during the presentation of SEM. It is not yet well understood why women use SEM to a remarkably lesser extent than men. Maybe men react stronger to stimuli - so called SEM cues -, which signal the presentation of SEM and are therefore more vulnerable to use SEM than women. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the sex specific neural correlates towards SEM and SEM cues. We were further interested in whether person characteristics as trait sexual motivation, extent of SEM use in the last month, and age at onset of goal-oriented SEM use affect the neural responses to SEM and SEM cues. The trials of the fMRI experiment consisted of an expectation phase with SEM or neutral cues and a presentation phase with SEM or neutral stimuli, respectively. Analyses showed that the reward circuitry was activated by SEM, but also by SEM cues. There were some sex differences in hemodynamic responses to SEM during the presentation phase, but not during the expectation phase to SEM cues in any of the regions of interest. The influence of the investigated person characteristics was only small if existent. The results suggest that sex specific cue processing cannot explain sex differences in the use of SEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Center of Mind, Brain and Behavior, Universities of Marburg and Gießen, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Sanja Klein
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2a, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Martin Weygandt
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health; Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Lisa K Leufgens
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Jana Strahler
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
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15
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Mirror exposure therapy for body image disturbances and eating disorders: A review. Clin Psychol Rev 2018; 65:163-174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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16
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Hildebrandt T, Schulz K, Schiller D, Heywood A, Goodman W, Sysko R. Evidence of prefrontal hyperactivation to food-cue reversal learning in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Behav Res Ther 2018; 111:36-43. [PMID: 30292918 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Food avoidance in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been hypothesized to occur as a result of deficits in reversal learning and altered neuronal processing of food-cue relationships. Extant findings suggest that those with AN may rely on heightened recruitment of prefrontal regions during initial formation of food-cue learning and difficulty extinguishing these relationships may result from elevated insula activity. We tested this hypothesis by comparing behavioral and neuronal responses to food-cue acquisition and reversal between adolescents with AN and healthy controls. Compared to controls, acquisition of a food-cue association and its reversal were associated with elevated prefrontal activation in adolescents with AN. There were no significant differences between groups in insula activation and no behavioral differences in the ability to acquire or reverse the food-cue association. The results suggest that adolescents with AN recruit prefrontal regulatory networks to acquire and alter expectancies to food. This pattern of top-down prefrontal control suggests that clinical interventions that target changes in food-cue relationships and rely on cognitive control may be less effective. Interventions that alter behavior without reliance on this top-down control may have advantages with this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Hildebrandt
- Eating and Weight Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kurt Schulz
- Department of Psychiatry and Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Daniela Schiller
- Department of Psychiatry and Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ashley Heywood
- Eating and Weight Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Wayne Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry and Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Robyn Sysko
- Department of Psychiatry and Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Tapia León I, Kruse O, Stalder T, Stark R, Klucken T. Neural correlates of subjective CS/UCS association in appetitive conditioning. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:1637-1646. [PMID: 29297960 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Explicit knowledge of conditioned stimulus (CS)/unconditioned stimulus (UCS) associations is proposed as important factor in classical conditioning. However, while previous studies have focused on its roles in fear conditioning, it has been neglected in the context of appetitive conditioning. The present functional magnetic resonance study aimed to investigate neural activation and functional connectivity linked to subjective CS/UCS association in appetitive conditioning. In total, 85 subjects participated in an appetitive acquisition procedure in which a neutral stimulus (CS+) was paired with a monetary reward, while another neutral stimulus (CS-) was never paired with the reward. Directly afterwards, subjective CS/UCS association was assessed by measuring the extent to which the CS+ was thought to be associated with the UCS compared to the CS-. Close relationships were established between subjective CS/UCS association and activations in the primary visual cortex (V1) during the early phase of conditioning and in the striatum during the late conditioning phase. In addition, we observed inverse relationships between subjective CS/UCS association and both V1/ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and striatal/vmPFC connectivity. The results suggest the involvement of decoupling vmPFC connectivity in reward learning in general and the roles of attentional processes in the formation of the subjective CS/UCS association during the early phase and reward prediction during the late phase of appetitive conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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18
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Kruse O, Tapia León I, Stalder T, Stark R, Klucken T. Altered reward learning and hippocampal connectivity following psychosocial stress. Neuroimage 2017; 171:15-25. [PMID: 29288866 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute stress has a profound influence on learning, as has been demonstrated in verbal learning or fear conditioning. However, its effect on appetitive conditioning is still unclear. Fear conditioning research suggests the possibility of overgeneralization of conditioning to the CS- under acute stress due to its effect on prefrontal and hippocampal processing. In this study, participants (N = 56 males) were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test or a placebo version. After that, all participants underwent an appetitive conditioning paradigm in the fMRI, in which one neutral cue (CS+) was repeatedly paired with reward, while another (CS-) was not. Importantly, the stress-group revealed overgeneralization of conditioning to the CS- on the behavioral level. On the neural level, stressed participants showed increased connectivity between the hippocampus and amygdala, vACC, and OFC, which maintain specificity of conditioning and also showed reduced differential activation. The results indicate overgeneralization of appetitive conditioning promoted by maladaptive balancing of pattern separation and pattern completion in the hippocampus under acute stress and are discussed with respect to clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2a, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2a, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2a, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Tim Klucken
- Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2a, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
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19
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Kruse O, Tapia León I, Stark R, Klucken T. Neural correlates of appetitive extinction in humans. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:106-115. [PMID: 27803289 PMCID: PMC5537618 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Appetitive extinction receives attention as an important model for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. However, in humans, its underlying neural correlates remain unknown. To close this gap, we investigated appetitive acquisition and extinction with fMRI in a 2-day monetary incentive delay paradigm. During appetitive conditioning, one stimulus (CS+) was paired with monetary reward, while another stimulus (CS−) was never rewarded. Twenty-four hours later, subjects underwent extinction, in which neither CS was reinforced. Appetitive conditioning elicited stronger skin conductance responses to the CS+ as compared with the CS−. Regarding subjective ratings, the CS+ was rated more pleasant and arousing than the CS− after conditioning. Furthermore, fMRI-results (CS+ − CS−) showed activation of the reward circuitry including amygdala, midbrain and striatal areas. During extinction, conditioned responses were successfully extinguished. In the early phase of extinction, we found a significant activation of the caudate, the hippocampus, the dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (dACC and vACC). In the late phase, we found significant activation of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and the amygdala. Correlational analyses with subjective ratings linked extinction success to the vACC and the NAcc, while associating the dACC with reduced extinction. The results reveal neural correlates of appetitive extinction in humans and extend assumptions from models for human extinction learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Isabell Tapia León
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience.,Bender Institute for Neuroimaging (BION), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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20
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Schweckendiek J, Stark R, Klucken T. Neuroticism and extraversion moderate neural responses and effective connectivity during appetitive conditioning. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 37:2992-3002. [PMID: 27132706 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Classical appetitive conditioning constitutes a basic learning process through which environmental stimuli can be associated with reward. Previous studies showed that individual differences in neuroticism and extraversion influence emotional processing and have been shown to modulate neural activity in subcortical and prefrontal areas in response to emotional stimuli. However, the role of individual differences in appetitive conditioning has so far not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to assess the association between neuroticism and extraversion with neural activity and connectivity during appetitive conditioning. The conditioned stimulus (CS) was either a picture of a dish or a cup. One stimulus (CS+) was paired with a monetary reward and the other stimulus (CS-) was associated with its absence while hemodynamic activity was measured by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging. A significant negative correlation of neuroticism scores with amygdala activity was observed during appetitive conditioning. Further, extraversion was positively associated with responses in the hippocampus and the thalamus. In addition, effective connectivity between the amygdala as a seed region and the anterior cingulate cortex, the insula, and the thalamus was negatively correlated with neuroticism scores and positively correlated with extraversion scores. The results may indicate a neural correlate for the deficits in appetitive learning in subjects with high neuroticism scores and point to a facilitating effect of extraversion on reward-related learning. Hum Brain Mapp 37:2992-3002, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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21
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Blanchette I, Treillet V, Davies SR. Affective learning in adults with intellectual disability: an experiment using evaluative conditioning. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2016; 60:263-273. [PMID: 26677114 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluative conditioning is a form of affective learning in which initially neutral stimuli acquire an affective value through association with negative or positive stimuli. Recent research shows an important role for cognitive resources in this type of learning. This form of affective learning has rarely been studied in intellectual disability (ID). METHOD We examined evaluative conditioning in 16 adults with mild to moderate ID compared to age- and gender-matched control participants. Neutral shapes and symbols were repeatedly paired with positive, neutral or negative unconditioned stimuli (faces or International Affective Picture System images). There was also an extinction phase. RESULTS There was significant acquisition of conditioning in both groups. Stimuli paired with positive images were evaluated more positively, and stimuli paired with negative images were evaluated more negatively. Post-extinction ratings however show that these novel affective associations were not maintained by individuals with ID as much as by individuals in the control group. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that ID modulates some aspects of affective learning but not necessarily initial preference acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Blanchette
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - V Treillet
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - S R Davies
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
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22
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Klucken T, Wehrum-Osinsky S, Schweckendiek J, Kruse O, Stark R. Altered Appetitive Conditioning and Neural Connectivity in Subjects With Compulsive Sexual Behavior. J Sex Med 2016; 13:627-36. [PMID: 26936075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been growing interest in a better understanding of the etiology of compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). It is assumed that facilitated appetitive conditioning might be an important mechanism for the development and maintenance of CSB, but no study thus far has investigated these processes. AIM To explore group differences in neural activity associated with appetitive conditioning and connectivity in subjects with CSB and a healthy control group. METHODS Two groups (20 subjects with CSB and 20 controls) were exposed to an appetitive conditioning paradigm during a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment, in which a neutral stimulus (CS+) predicted visual sexual stimuli and a second stimulus (CS-) did not. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Blood oxygen level-dependent responses and psychophysiologic interaction. RESULTS As a main result, we found increased amygdala activity during appetitive conditioning for the CS+ vs the CS- and decreased coupling between the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex in the CSB vs control group. CONCLUSION The findings show that neural correlates of appetitive conditioning and neural connectivity are altered in patients with CSB. The increased amygdala activation might reflect facilitated conditioning processes in patients with CSB. In addition, the observed decreased coupling could be interpreted as a marker for impaired emotion regulation success in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
| | - Sina Wehrum-Osinsky
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Onno Kruse
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
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23
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Testing the disgust conditioning theory of food-avoidance in adolescents with recent onset anorexia nervosa. Behav Res Ther 2015; 71:131-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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