1
|
Mathieson E, Irving C, Koberna S, Nicholson M, Otto MW, Kantak KM. Role of preexisting inhibitory control deficits vs. drug use history in mediating insensitivity to aversive consequences in a rat model of polysubstance use. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2377-2394. [PMID: 35391547 PMCID: PMC8989405 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06134-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The nature and predictors of insensitivity to aversive consequences of heroin + cocaine polysubstance use are not well characterized. OBJECTIVES Translational methods incorporating a tightly controlled animal model of drug self-administration and measures of inhibitory control and avoidance behavior might be helpful for clarifying this issue. METHODS The key approach for distinguishing potential contributions of pre-existing inhibitory control deficits vs. drug use history in meditating insensitivity to aversive consequences was comparison of two rat strains: Wistar (WIS/Crl), an outbred strain, and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR/NCrl), an inbred strain shown previously to exhibit heightened cocaine and heroin self-administration and poor inhibitory control relative to WIS/Crl. RESULTS In separate tasks, SHR/NCrl displayed greater impulsive action and compulsive-like behavior than WIS/Crl prior to drug exposure. Under two different schedules of drug delivery, SHR/NCrl self-administered more cocaine than WIS/Crl, but self-administered a similar amount of heroin + cocaine as WIS/Crl. When half the session cycles were punished by random foot shock, SHR/NCrl initially were less sensitive to punishment than WIS/Crl when self-administering cocaine, but were similarly insensitive to punishment when self-administering heroin + cocaine. Based on correlation analyses, only trait impulsivity predicted avoidance capacity in rats self-administering cocaine and receiving yoked-saline. In contrast, only amount of drug use predicted avoidance capacity in rats self-administering heroin + cocaine. Additionally, baseline drug seeking and taking predicted punishment insensitivity in rats self-administering cocaine or heroin + cocaine. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings revealed in this animal model, human laboratory research concerning the nature and predictors of insensitivity to aversive consequences in heroin and cocaine polysubstance vs. monosubstance users is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elon Mathieson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Carolyn Irving
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sarah Koberna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Megan Nicholson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Michael W Otto
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Kathleen M Kantak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Richard Y, Tazi N, Frydecka D, Hamid MS, Moustafa AA. A systematic review of neural, cognitive, and clinical studies of anger and aggression. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-13. [PMID: 35693838 PMCID: PMC9174026 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03143-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Anger and aggression have large impact on people's safety and the society at large. In order to provide an intervention to minimise aggressive behaviours, it is important to understand the neural and cognitive aspects of anger and aggression. In this systematic review, we investigate the cognitive and neural aspects of anger-related processes, including anger-related behaviours and anger reduction. Using this information, we then review prior existing methods on the treatment of anger-related disorders as well as anger management, including mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. At the cognitive level, our review that anger is associated with excessive attention to anger-related stimuli and impulsivity. At the neural level, anger is associated with abnormal functioning of the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In conclusions, based on cognitive and neural studies, we here argue that mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy may be better at reducing anger and aggression than other behavioural treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness alone. We provide key information on future research work and best ways to manage anger and reduce aggression. Importantly, future research should investigate how anger related behaviours is acquired and how stress impacts the development of anger.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Tazi
- Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
- Universite Med 5th, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteur Street 10, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Ahmed A. Moustafa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Radell ML, Hamza EA, Moustafa AA. Depression in post-traumatic stress disorder. Rev Neurosci 2021; 31:703-722. [PMID: 32866132 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms commonly occur after trauma-exposure, both alone and in combination with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article reviews recent research on comorbidity between these disorders, including its implications for symptom severity and response to treatment. Despite considerable symptom overlap, the two disorders represent distinct constructs and depend, at least in part, on separate biological mechanisms. Both, however, are also clearly related to stress psychopathology. We recommend that more research focus specifically on the study of individual differences in symptom expression in order to identify distinct subgroups of individuals and develop targeted treatments. However, a barrier to this line of inquiry is the trend of excluding particular patients from clinical trials of new interventions based on symptom severity or comorbidity. Another obstacle is the overreliance on self-report measures in human research. We argue that developing computer-based behavioral measures in order to supplement self-report can help address this challenge. Furthermore, we propose that these measures can help tie findings from human and non-human animal research. A number of paradigms have been used to model MDD-and PTSD-like behavior in animals. These models remain valuable for understanding the biological basis of these disorders in humans and for identifying potential interventions, but they have been underused for the study of comorbidity. Although the interpretation of animal behavior remains a concern, we propose that this can also be overcome through the development of close human analogs to animal paradigms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milen L Radell
- Department of Psychology, Niagara University, Lewiston, NY, USA
| | - Eid Abo Hamza
- Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Marcs Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wypych M, Potenza MN. Impaired Learning From Errors and Punishments and Maladaptive Avoidance-General Mechanisms Underlying Self-Regulation Disorders? Front Psychiatry 2021; 11:609874. [PMID: 33574773 PMCID: PMC7870682 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.609874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-regulation (SR) is an important human function that relates to quality of life in multiple domains including mental health. Previous studies have found important correlates of low SR including impulsivity and poor emotional regulation; however, underpinnings of low SR are incompletely understood. Individuals low in SR frequently engage in maladaptive behaviors (substance abuse, procrastination, etc.) despite negative consequences. This phenomenon suggests that impaired learning from errors and punishments may be important mechanisms underlying low SR. Consistently, previous studies observed impaired error processing in a wide spectrum of individuals with low SR and impaired learning from errors and punishments in SR-related disorders. We also note a possible role for poor emotional regulation and refer to concepts suggesting that engaging in maladaptive behaviors may serve as short term emotion regulation strategies aimed at avoiding or alleviating negative affect. We speculate on transdiagnostic factors underlying poor SR. We propose that impaired error processing (possibly related to striatal functioning) may prevent subjects with low SR from learning from errors and punishments and thus learning better SR skills or tendencies. Additionally, impaired coping in emotionally challenging situations, possibly related to prefrontal-cortical functioning, may lead to maladaptive avoidance. Moreover, maladaptive behaviors may be reinforced by the temporary decreases in negative affect and rewarding values of behaviors. Given existing knowledge gaps, we call for more extensive research and describe possible directions and challenges for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marek Wypych
- Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, United States
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ross JA, Van Bockstaele EJ. The role of catecholamines in modulating responses to stress: Sex-specific patterns, implications, and therapeutic potential for post-traumatic stress disorder and opiate withdrawal. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:2429-2465. [PMID: 32125035 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Emotional arousal is one of several factors that determine the strength of a memory and how efficiently it may be retrieved. The systems at play are multifaceted; on one hand, the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system evaluates the rewarding or reinforcing potential of a stimulus, while on the other, the noradrenergic stress response system evaluates the risk of threat, commanding attention, and engaging emotional and physical behavioral responses. Sex-specific patterns in the anatomy and function of the arousal system suggest that sexually divergent therapeutic approaches may be advantageous for neurological disorders involving arousal, learning, and memory. From the lens of the triple network model of psychopathology, we argue that post-traumatic stress disorder and opiate substance use disorder arise from maladaptive learning responses that are perpetuated by hyperarousal of the salience network. We present evidence that catecholamine-modulated learning and stress-responsive circuitry exerts substantial influence over the salience network and its dysfunction in stress-related psychiatric disorders, and between the sexes. We discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting the endogenous cannabinoid system; a ubiquitous neuromodulator that influences learning, memory, and responsivity to stress by influencing catecholamine, excitatory, and inhibitory synaptic transmission. Relevant preclinical data in male and female rodents are integrated with clinical data in men and women in an effort to understand how ideal treatment modalities between the sexes may be different.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Ross
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elisabeth J Van Bockstaele
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sheynin J, Myers CE, Ghafar F, Morris AN, Morley KC, Haber PS, Moustafa AA. A pilot study of escape, avoidance, and approach behaviors in treated alcohol-dependent males. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2019; 41:601-614. [PMID: 31023142 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2019.1595530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol-dependent individuals are often reported to use behavioral strategies both to escape from and avoid negative affective states, and also to approach positive affective states. However, there has been little examination of how these individuals acquire and express these types of behaviors. In this study, male adults meeting the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision (ICD-10) criteria for alcohol dependence recruited from an outpatient treatment clinic and healthy male controls were given a computer-based task to assess learning and performance of escape, avoidance, and approach behaviors. In this task, participants control a spaceship and can either gain points by shooting an enemy spaceship or hide in safe areas to escape or avoid on-screen aversive events. We found that patients with alcohol dependence exhibited greater escape and approach behaviors, tended to show greater avoidance behavior, and achieved higher total score on the computer task than healthy controls. This is the first demonstration of such behavioral differences in this population, supporting the overactivation of both positive and negative reinforcement systems in alcohol dependence, and suggesting that such behavioral biases are not limited to alcohol-related cues. The contribution of this work to behavioral assessment and therapeutic approaches, as well as possible future directions, are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jony Sheynin
- a Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Catherine E Myers
- c Department of Veterans Affairs , New Jersey Health Care System , East Orange , NJ , USA.,d Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School , Rutgers University , Newark , NJ , USA
| | - Farahnaz Ghafar
- e School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Western Sydney University , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Alejandro N Morris
- e School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Western Sydney University , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Kirsten C Morley
- f NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School , The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Paul S Haber
- f NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School , The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- e School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Western Sydney University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.,g The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development , Western Sydney University , Sydney , Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
|
8
|
Dymond S. Overcoming avoidance in anxiety disorders: The contributions of Pavlovian and operant avoidance extinction methods. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 98:61-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
|
9
|
Abstract
One of the consequences of chronic methamphetamine (Meth) abuse and Meth addiction is impaired hippocampal function which plays a critical role in enhanced propensity for relapse. This impairment is predicted by alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis, structural- and functional-plasticity of granule cell neurons (GCNs), and expression of plasticity-related proteins in the dentate gyrus. This review will elaborate on the effects of Meth in animal models during different stages of addiction-like behavior on proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and survival of newly born neural progenitor cells. We will then discuss evidence for the contribution of adult neurogenesis in context-driven Meth-seeking behavior in animal models. These findings from interdisciplinary studies suggest that a subset of newly born GCNs contribute to context-driven Meth-seeking in Meth addicted animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Takashima
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chitra D. Mandyam
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sex Differences in Regional Brain Glucose Metabolism Following Opioid Withdrawal and Replacement. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017; 42:1841-1849. [PMID: 28393895 PMCID: PMC5520789 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Methadone and buprenorphine are currently the most common pharmacological treatments for opioid dependence. Interestingly, the clinical response to these drugs appears to be sex specific. That is, females exhibit superior therapeutic efficacy, defined as extended periods of abstinence and longer time to relapse, compared with males. However, the underlying metabolic effects of opioid withdrawal and replacement have not been examined. Therefore, using 18FDG and microPET, we measured differences in regional brain glucose metabolism in males and females following morphine withdrawal and subsequent methadone or buprenorphine replacement. In both males and females, spontaneous opioid withdrawal altered glucose metabolism in regions associated with reward and drug dependence. Specifically, metabolic increases in the thalamus, as well as metabolic decreases in insular cortex and the periaqueductal gray, were noted. However, compared with males, females exhibited increased metabolism in the preoptic area, primary motor cortex, and the amygdala, and decreased metabolism in the caudate/putamen and medial geniculate nucleus. Methadone and buprenorphine initially abolished these changes uniformly, but subsequently produced their own regional metabolic alterations that varied by treatment and sex. Compared with sex-matched control animals undergoing spontaneous opioid withdrawal, male animals treated with methadone exhibited increased caudate/putamen metabolism, whereas buprenorphine produced increased ventral striatum and motor cortex metabolism in females, and increased ventral striatum and somatosensory cortex metabolism in males. Notably, when treatment effects were compared between sexes, methadone-treated females showed increased cingulate cortex metabolism, whereas buprenorphine-treated females showed decreased metabolism in cingulate cortex and increased metabolism in the globus pallidus. Perhaps the initial similarities in males and females underlie early therapeutic efficacy, whereas these posttreatment sex differences contribute to clinical treatment failure more commonly experienced by the former.
Collapse
|
11
|
Garami J, Haber P, Myers CE, Allen MT, Misiak B, Frydecka D, Moustafa AA. Intolerance of uncertainty in opioid dependency - Relationship with trait anxiety and impulsivity. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181955. [PMID: 28759635 PMCID: PMC5536349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is the tendency to interpret ambiguous situations as threatening and having negative consequences, resulting in feelings of distress and anxiety. IU has been linked to a number of anxiety disorders, and anxiety felt in the face of uncertainty may result in maladaptive behaviors such as impulsive decision making. Although there is strong evidence that anxiety and impulsivity are risk factors for addiction, there is a paucity of research examining the role of IU in this disorder. The rate of opioid addiction, in particular, has been rising steadily in recent years, which necessitates deeper understanding of risk factors in order to develop effective prevention and treatment methods. The current study tested for the first time whether opioid-dependent adults are less tolerant of uncertainty compared to a healthy comparison group. Opioid dependent patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (n = 114) and healthy comparisons (n = 69) completed the following scales: Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Barrett Impulsivity Scale, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Analysis revealed that these measures were positively correlated with each other and that opioid-dependent patients had significantly higher IU scores. Regression analysis revealed that anxiety mediated the relationship between IU and impulsivity. Hierarchical moderation regression found an interaction between addiction status and impulsivity on IU scores in that the relationship between these variables was only observed in the patient group. Findings suggest that IU is a feature of addiction but does not necessarily play a unique role. Further research is needed to explore the complex relationship between traits and how they may contribute to the development and maintenance of addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Garami
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Haber
- National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine E. Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Allen
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Blazej Misiak
- Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ahmed A. Moustafa
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Marcs Institute for Brain and Behaviour, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sheynin J, Shind C, Radell M, Ebanks-Williams Y, Gilbertson MW, Beck KD, Myers CE. Greater avoidance behavior in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Stress 2017; 20:285-293. [PMID: 28322068 PMCID: PMC5490437 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1309523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While avoidance is a core symptom of PTSD, little is known about whether individuals with PTSD show a general cognitive bias to acquire and express avoidance, in situations not related to trauma or fear. Here, we used a computer-based task to examine operant acquisition and extinction of avoidance in participants with and without severe self-reported PTSD symptoms. A total of 119 participants (77 male, 42 female; 74 veteran, 45 civilian) with symptoms (PTSS; n = 63) or with few/no symptoms (noPTSS; n = 56) performed a task, in which they controlled a spaceship and could shoot a target to gain points or hide in "safe areas" to escape or avoid on-screen aversive events. Results show that participants with PTSS exhibited more avoidance across trials than noPTSS participants, particularly due to more avoidance behavior in PTSS females compared to noPTSS females. Avoidance behavior decreased across extinction trials but interactions with PTSS and gender fell short of significance. Overall, PTSD symptoms were associated with propensity to acquire and express avoidance behavior, in both civilians and veterans, and even in a cognitive task that does not explicitly involve trauma or fear. This effect was more pronounced in females, highlighting the role of gender differences in PTSD symptomatology. Importantly, this study also demonstrates the potential of an objective assessment of avoidance behavior, which could be used to supplement the common but limited self-report tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jony Sheynin
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christine Shind
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Milen Radell
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Kevin D. Beck
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Catherine E. Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Corresponding Author: Catherine E. Myers, Research Services, VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, , Phone: 973-676-1000 x(1)1810
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kirlic N, Young J, Aupperle RL. Animal to human translational paradigms relevant for approach avoidance conflict decision making. Behav Res Ther 2017; 96:14-29. [PMID: 28495358 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2017.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Avoidance behavior in clinical anxiety disorders is often a decision made in response to approach-avoidance conflict, resulting in a sacrifice of potential rewards to avoid potential negative affective consequences. Animal research has a long history of relying on paradigms related to approach-avoidance conflict to model anxiety-relevant behavior. This approach includes punishment-based conflict, exploratory, and social interaction tasks. There has been a recent surge of interest in the translation of paradigms from animal to human, in efforts to increase generalization of findings and support the development of more effective mental health treatments. This article briefly reviews animal tests related to approach-avoidance conflict and results from lesion and pharmacologic studies utilizing these tests. We then provide a description of translational human paradigms that have been developed to tap into related constructs, summarizing behavioral and neuroimaging findings. Similarities and differences in findings from analogous animal and human paradigms are discussed. Lastly, we highlight opportunities for future research and paradigm development that will support the clinical utility of this translational work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Namik Kirlic
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States.
| | - Jared Young
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92161, United States.
| | - Robin L Aupperle
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States; School of Community Medicine, University of Tulsa, 800 S Tucker Dr, Tulsa, OK 74104, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Perry CJ, Lawrence AJ. Addiction, cognitive decline and therapy: seeking ways to escape a vicious cycle. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:205-218. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Perry
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
| | - A. J. Lawrence
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Myers CE, Rego J, Haber P, Morley K, Beck KD, Hogarth L, Moustafa AA. Learning and generalization from reward and punishment in opioid addiction. Behav Brain Res 2016; 317:122-131. [PMID: 27641323 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This study adapts a widely-used acquired equivalence paradigm to investigate how opioid-addicted individuals learn from positive and negative feedback, and how they generalize this learning. The opioid-addicted group consisted of 33 participants with a history of heroin dependency currently in a methadone maintenance program; the control group consisted of 32 healthy participants without a history of drug addiction. All participants performed a novel variant of the acquired equivalence task, where they learned to map some stimuli to correct outcomes in order to obtain reward, and to map other stimuli to correct outcomes in order to avoid punishment; some stimuli were implicitly "equivalent" in the sense of being paired with the same outcome. On the initial training phase, both groups performed similarly on learning to obtain reward, but as memory load grew, the control group outperformed the addicted group on learning to avoid punishment. On a subsequent testing phase, the addicted and control groups performed similarly on retention trials involving previously-trained stimulus-outcome pairs, as well as on generalization trials to assess acquired equivalence. Since prior work with acquired equivalence tasks has associated stimulus-outcome learning with the nigrostriatal dopamine system, and generalization with the hippocampal region, the current results are consistent with basal ganglia dysfunction in the opioid-addicted patients. Further, a selective deficit in learning from punishment could contribute to processes by which addicted individuals continue to pursue drug use even at the cost of negative consequences such as loss of income and the opportunity to engage in other life activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
| | - Janice Rego
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Haber
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kirsten Morley
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kevin D Beck
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Lee Hogarth
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA; Marcs Institute for Brain and Behaviour, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Radell ML, Myers CE, Beck KD, Moustafa AA, Allen MT. The Personality Trait of Intolerance to Uncertainty Affects Behavior in a Novel Computer-Based Conditioned Place Preference Task. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1175. [PMID: 27555829 PMCID: PMC4977360 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has found that personality factors that confer vulnerability to addiction can also affect learning and economic decision making. One personality trait which has been implicated in vulnerability to addiction is intolerance to uncertainty (IU), i.e., a preference for familiar over unknown (possibly better) options. In animals, the motivation to obtain drugs is often assessed through conditioned place preference (CPP), which compares preference for contexts where drug reward was previously received. It is an open question whether participants with high IU also show heightened preference for previously rewarded contexts. To address this question, we developed a novel computer-based CPP task for humans in which participants guide an avatar through a paradigm in which one room contains frequent reward (i.e., rich) and one contains less frequent reward (i.e., poor). Following exposure to both contexts, subjects are assessed for preference to enter the previously rich and previously poor room. Individuals with low IU showed little bias to enter the previously rich room first, and instead entered both rooms at about the same rate which may indicate a foraging behavior. By contrast, those with high IU showed a strong bias to enter the previously rich room first. This suggests an increased tendency to chase reward in the intolerant group, consistent with previously observed behavior in opioid-addicted individuals. Thus, the personality factor of high IU may produce a pre-existing cognitive bias that provides a mechanism to promote decision-making processes that increase vulnerability to addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milen L Radell
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East OrangeNJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, NewarkNJ, USA
| | - Catherine E Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East OrangeNJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, NewarkNJ, USA
| | - Kevin D Beck
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East OrangeNJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, NewarkNJ, USA
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology and Marcs Institute for Brain and Behaviour, University of Western Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Todd Allen
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Moustafa AA, Sheynin J, Myers CE. The Role of Informative and Ambiguous Feedback in Avoidance Behavior: Empirical and Computational Findings. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144083. [PMID: 26630279 PMCID: PMC4668119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Avoidance behavior is a critical component of many psychiatric disorders, and as such, it is important to understand how avoidance behavior arises, and whether it can be modified. In this study, we used empirical and computational methods to assess the role of informational feedback and ambiguous outcome in avoidance behavior. We adapted a computer-based probabilistic classification learning task, which includes positive, negative and no-feedback outcomes; the latter outcome is ambiguous as it might signal either a successful outcome (missed punishment) or a failure (missed reward). Prior work with this task suggested that most healthy subjects viewed the no-feedback outcome as strongly positive. Interestingly, in a later version of the classification task, when healthy subjects were allowed to opt out of (i.e. avoid) responding, some subjects (“avoiders”) reliably avoided trials where there was a risk of punishment, but other subjects (“non-avoiders”) never made any avoidance responses at all. One possible interpretation is that the “non-avoiders” valued the no-feedback outcome so positively on punishment-based trials that they had little incentive to avoid. Another possible interpretation is that the outcome of an avoided trial is unspecified and that lack of information is aversive, decreasing subjects’ tendency to avoid. To examine these ideas, we here tested healthy young adults on versions of the task where avoidance responses either did or did not generate informational feedback about the optimal response. Results showed that provision of informational feedback decreased avoidance responses and also decreased categorization performance, without significantly affecting the percentage of subjects classified as “avoiders.” To better understand these results, we used a modified Q-learning model to fit individual subject data. Simulation results suggest that subjects in the feedback condition adjusted their behavior faster following better-than-expected outcomes, compared to subjects in the no-feedback condition. Additionally, in both task conditions, “avoiders” adjusted their behavior faster following worse-than-expected outcomes, and treated the ambiguous no-feedback outcome as less rewarding, compared to non-avoiders. Together, results shed light on the important role of ambiguous and informative feedback in avoidance behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A. Moustafa
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology & Marcs Institute for Brain and Behaviour, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jony Sheynin
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Catherine E. Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Myers CE, Sheynin J, Balsdon T, Luzardo A, Beck KD, Hogarth L, Haber P, Moustafa AA. Probabilistic reward- and punishment-based learning in opioid addiction: Experimental and computational data. Behav Brain Res 2015; 296:240-248. [PMID: 26381438 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Addiction is the continuation of a habit in spite of negative consequences. A vast literature gives evidence that this poor decision-making behavior in individuals addicted to drugs also generalizes to laboratory decision making tasks, suggesting that the impairment in decision-making is not limited to decisions about taking drugs. In the current experiment, opioid-addicted individuals and matched controls with no history of illicit drug use were administered a probabilistic classification task that embeds both reward-based and punishment-based learning trials, and a computational model of decision making was applied to understand the mechanisms describing individuals' performance on the task. Although behavioral results showed that opioid-addicted individuals performed as well as controls on both reward- and punishment-based learning, the modeling results suggested subtle differences in how decisions were made between the two groups. Specifically, the opioid-addicted group showed decreased tendency to repeat prior responses, meaning that they were more likely to "chase reward" when expectancies were violated, whereas controls were more likely to stick with a previously-successful response rule, despite occasional expectancy violations. This tendency to chase short-term reward, potentially at the expense of developing rules that maximize reward over the long term, may be a contributing factor to opioid addiction. Further work is indicated to better understand whether this tendency arises as a result of brain changes in the wake of continued opioid use/abuse, or might be a pre-existing factor that may contribute to risk for addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Myers
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
| | - Jony Sheynin
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tarryn Balsdon
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andre Luzardo
- School of Mathematics, Computing Sciences & Engineering at City University London, UK
| | - Kevin D Beck
- Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Lee Hogarth
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Paul Haber
- Drug Health Services, Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Marcs Institute for Brain and Behaviour, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|