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Reis SL, Monteiro P. From synaptic dysfunction to atypical emotional processing in autism. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:269-282. [PMID: 38233224 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition mainly characterized by social impairments and repetitive behaviors. Among these core symptoms, a notable aspect of ASD is the presence of emotional complexities, including high rates of anxiety disorders. The inherent heterogeneity of ASD poses a unique challenge in understanding its etiological origins, yet the utilization of diverse animal models replicating ASD traits has enabled researchers to dissect the intricate relationship between autism and atypical emotional processing. In this review, we delve into the general findings about the neural circuits underpinning one of the most extensively researched and evolutionarily conserved emotional states: fear and anxiety. Additionally, we explore how distinct ASD animal models exhibit various anxiety phenotypes, making them a crucial tool for dissecting ASD's multifaceted nature. Overall, to a proper display of fear response, it is crucial to properly process and integrate sensorial and visceral cues to the fear-induced stimuli. ASD individuals exhibit altered sensory processing, possibly contributing to the emergence of atypical phobias, a prevailing anxiety disorder manifested in this population. Moreover, these individuals display distinctive alterations in a pivotal fear and anxiety processing hub, the amygdala. By examining the neurobiological mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety regulation, we can gain insights into the factors contributing to the distinctive emotional profile observed in individuals with ASD. Such insights hold the potential to pave the way for more targeted interventions and therapies that address the emotional challenges faced by individuals within the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Reis
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
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Chirumamilla VC, Gonzalez-Escamilla G, Meyer B, Anwar AR, Ding H, Radetz A, Bonertz T, Groppa S, Muthuraman M. Inhibitory and excitatory responses in the dorso-medial prefrontal cortex during threat processing. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1065469. [PMID: 36699539 PMCID: PMC9868831 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1065469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate cortical excitability during instructed threat processing. Methods Single and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulses were applied to the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) during high-density electroencephalography (EEG) recording in young healthy participants (n = 17) performing an instructed threat paradigm in which one of two conditioned stimuli (CS+ but not CS-) was paired with an electric shock (unconditioned stimulus [US]). We assessed TMS-induced EEG responses with spectral power (both at electrode and source level) and information flow (effective connectivity) using Time-resolved Partial Directed Coherence (TPDC). Support vector regression (SVR) was used to predict behavioral fear ratings for CS+ based on TMS impact on excitability. Results During intracortical facilitation (ICF), frontal lobe theta power was enhanced for CS+ compared to single pulse TMS for the time window 0-0.5 s after TMS pulse onset (t(16) = 3.9, p < 0.05). At source level, ICF led to an increase and short intracortical inhibition (SICI) to a decrease of theta power in the bilateral dmPFC, relative to single pulse TMS during 0-0.5 s. Compared to single pulse TMS, ICF increased information flows, whereas SICI reduced the information flows in theta band between dmPFC, amygdala, and hippocampus (all at p < 0.05). The magnitude of information flows between dmPFC to amygdala and dmPFC to hippocampus during ICF (0-0.5 s), predicted individual behavioral fear ratings (CS+; coefficient above 0.75). Conclusion Distinct excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms take place in the dmPFC. These findings may facilitate future research attempting to investigate inhibitory/facilitatory mechanisms alterations in psychiatric disorders and their behavioral correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata C. Chirumamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Neuroimaging Center Mainz, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Abdul Rauf Anwar
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hao Ding
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Angela Radetz
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tamara Bonertz
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany,*Correspondence: Muthuraman Muthuraman,
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Gonzalez-Escamilla G, Chirumamilla VC, Koirala N, Anwar AR, Tüscher O, Vogt J, Horstmann P, Meyer B, Bonanno GA, Groppa S, Muthuraman M. Modular segregation drives causality of the dynamic oscillatory network responses during threat processing. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad035. [PMID: 36895959 PMCID: PMC9989139 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological responses to threat and stress stimuli entrain synchronized neural oscillations among cerebral networks. Network architecture and adaptation may play a critical role in achieving optimal physiological responses, while alteration can lead to mental dysfunction. We reconstructed cortical and sub-cortical source time series from high-density electroencephalography, which were then fed into community architecture analysis. Dynamic alterations were evaluated in terms of flexibility, clustering coefficient and global and local efficiency, as parameters of community allegiance. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex during the time window relevant for physiological threat processing and effective connectivity was computed to test the causality of network dynamics. A theta band-driven community re-organization was evident in key anatomical regions conforming the central executive, salience network and default mode networks during instructed threat processing. Increased network flexibility entrained the physiological responses to threat processing. The effective connectivity analysis showed that information flow differed between theta and alpha bands and were modulated by transcranial magnetic stimulation in salience and default mode networks during threat processing. Theta oscillations drive dynamic community network re-organization during threat processing. Nodal community switches may modulate the directionality of information flow and determine physiological responses relevant to mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Venkata C Chirumamilla
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Nabin Koirala
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany.,Haskins Laboratories, Yale University, New Haven 06511, USA
| | - Abdul R Anwar
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore (KSK Campus), Lahore, Punjab 39161, Pakistan
| | - Oliver Tüscher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Johannes Vogt
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Phillip Horstmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - George A Bonanno
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York 10027, USA
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Section of Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing unit, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
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You Y, Novak LR, Clancy KJ, Li W. Pattern differentiation and tuning shift in human sensory cortex underlie long-term threat memory. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2067-2075.e4. [PMID: 35325599 PMCID: PMC9090975 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala-prefrontal-cortex circuit has long occupied the center of the threat system,1 but new evidence has rapidly amassed to implicate threat processing outside this canonical circuit.2-4 Through nonhuman research, the sensory cortex has emerged as a critical substrate for long-term threat memory,5-9 underpinned by sensory cortical pattern separation/completion10,11 and tuning shift.12,13 In humans, research has begun to associate the human sensory cortex with long-term threat memory,14,15 but the lack of mechanistic insights obscures a direct linkage. Toward that end, we assessed human olfactory threat conditioning and long-term (9 days) threat memory, combining affective appraisal, olfactory psychophysics, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) over a linear odor-morphing continuum (five levels of binary mixtures of the conditioned stimuli/CS+ and CS- odors). Affective ratings and olfactory perceptual discrimination confirmed (explicit) affective and perceptual learning and memory via conditioning. fMRI representational similarity analysis (RSA) and voxel-based tuning analysis further revealed associative plasticity in the human olfactory (piriform) cortex, including immediate and lasting pattern differentiation between CS and neighboring non-CS and a late onset, lasting tuning shift toward the CS. The two plastic processes were especially salient and lasting in anxious individuals, among whom they were further correlated. These findings thus support an evolutionarily conserved sensory cortical system of long-term threat representation, which can underpin threat perception and memory. Importantly, hyperfunctioning of this sensory mnemonic system of threat in anxiety further implicates a hitherto underappreciated sensory mechanism of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi You
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
| | - Lucas R Novak
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Kevin J Clancy
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
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Kunas SL, Stuke H, Heinz A, Ströhle A, Bermpohl F. Evidence for a hijacked brain reward system but no desensitized threat system in quitting-motivated smokers: An fMRI study. Addiction 2022; 117:701-712. [PMID: 34312937 DOI: 10.1111/add.15651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Several aspects of how quitting-motivated tobacco use disorder (TUD) subjects and never-smokers differ in terms of reward and threat processing remain unresolved. We aimed to examine aberrant reward and threat processes in TUD and the association with smoking characteristics. DESIGN A between- and within-subjects functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment with a 2 (groups) × 4 (stimulus type) factorial design. The experimental paradigm had four conditions: pictures of (1) cigarettes served as drug-related-positive cues, (2) food as alternative reward cues, (3) long-term consequences of smoking as drug-related-negative cues and (4) neutral pictures as control. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Adult participants (n = 38 TUD subjects and n = 42 never-smokers) were recruited in Berlin, Germany. MEASUREMENTS As contrasts of primary interest, the interactions of group × stimulus-type were assessed. Significance threshold correction for multiple testing was carried out with the family-wise error method. Correlation analyses were used to test the association with smoking characteristics. FINDINGS The 2 × 2 interaction of smoking status and stimulus type revealed activations in the brain reward system to drug-related-positive cues in TUD subjects (between-subjects effect: P-values ≤ 0.036). As a response to drug-related-negative cues, TUD subjects showed no reduced activation of the aversive brain network. Within the TUD group, a significant negative association was found between response of the aversive brain system to drug-related-negative cues (within-subjects effect: P-values ≤ 0.021) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (right insula r = -0.386, P = 0.024; left insula r = -0.351, P = 0.042; right ACC r = -0.359, P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Moderate smokers with tobacco use disorder appear to have altered brain reward processing of drug-related-positive (but not negative) cues compared with never smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie L Kunas
- Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heiner Stuke
- Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Ströhle
- Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Bermpohl
- Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Hall CV, Harrison BJ, Iyer KK, Savage HS, Zakrzewski M, Simms LA, Radford-Smith G, Moran RJ, Cocchi L. Microbiota links to neural dynamics supporting threat processing. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:733-749. [PMID: 34811847 PMCID: PMC8720184 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing recognition that the composition of the gut microbiota influences behaviour, including responses to threat. The cognitive‐interoceptive appraisal of threat‐related stimuli relies on dynamic neural computations between the anterior insular (AIC) and the dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) cortices. If, to what extent, and how microbial consortia influence the activity of this cortical threat processing circuitry is unclear. We addressed this question by combining a threat processing task, neuroimaging, 16S rRNA profiling and computational modelling in healthy participants. Results showed interactions between high‐level ecological indices with threat‐related AIC‐dACC neural dynamics. At finer taxonomic resolutions, the abundance of Ruminococcus was differentially linked to connectivity between, and activity within the AIC and dACC during threat updating. Functional inference analysis provides a strong rationale to motivate future investigations of microbiota‐derived metabolites in the observed relationship with threat‐related brain processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin V Hall
- Clinical Brain Networks Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kartik K Iyer
- Clinical Brain Networks Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hannah S Savage
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martha Zakrzewski
- Gut Health LAB, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lisa A Simms
- Gut Health LAB, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham Radford-Smith
- Gut Health LAB, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rosalyn J Moran
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Luca Cocchi
- Clinical Brain Networks Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Steudte-Schmiedgen S, Fay E, Capitao L, Kirschbaum C, Reinecke A. Hydrocortisone as an adjunct to brief cognitive-behavioural therapy for specific fear: Endocrine and cognitive biomarkers as predictors of symptom improvement. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:641-651. [PMID: 33908295 PMCID: PMC8278554 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211001087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid (GC) administration prior to exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged as a promising approach to facilitate treatment outcome in anxiety disorders. Further components relevant for improved CBT efficacy include raised endogenous GCs and reductions in information-processing biases to threat. AIMS To investigate hydrocortisone as an adjunct to CBT for spider fear and the modulating role of threat bias change and endogenous short-term and long-term GCs for treatment response. METHODS Spider-fearful individuals were randomized to receiving either 20 mg of hydrocortisone (n = 17) or placebo (n = 16) one hour prior to single-session predominantly computerised exposure-based CBT. Spider fear was assessed using self-report and behavioural approach measures at baseline, 1-day and 1-month follow-up. Threat processing was assessed at baseline and 1-day follow-up. Cortisol and cortisone were analysed from hair and saliva samples at baseline. RESULTS/OUTCOMES Self-report, behavioural and threat processing indices improved following CBT. Hydrocortisone augmentation resulted in greater improvement of self-report spider fear and stronger increase in speed when approaching a spider, but not on threat bias. Neither threat bias nor endogenous GCs predicted symptom change, and no interactive effects with hydrocortisone emerged. Preliminary evidence indicated higher hair cortisone as predictor of a stronger threat bias reduction. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our data extend earlier findings by suggesting that GC administration boosts the success of exposure therapy for specific fear even with a low-level therapist involvement. Future studies corroborating our result of a predictive hair GC relationship with threat bias change in larger clinical samples are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen, Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01062, Germany.
| | - Emily Fay
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Liliana Capitao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,Oxford Health NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
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Livermore JJA, Klaassen FH, Bramson B, Hulsman AM, Meijer SW, Held L, Klumpers F, de Voogd LD, Roelofs K. Approach-Avoidance Decisions Under Threat: The Role of Autonomic Psychophysiological States. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:621517. [PMID: 33867915 PMCID: PMC8044748 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.621517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acutely challenging or threatening situations frequently require approach-avoidance decisions. Acute threat triggers fast autonomic changes that prepare the body to freeze, fight or flee. However, such autonomic changes may also influence subsequent instrumental approach-avoidance decisions. Since defensive bodily states are often not considered in value-based decision-making models, it remains unclear how they influence the decision-making process. Here, we aim to bridge this gap by discussing the existing literature on the potential role of threat-induced bodily states on decision making and provide a new neurocomputational framework explaining how these effects can facilitate or bias approach-avoid decisions under threat. Theoretical accounts have stated that threat-induced parasympathetic activity is involved in information gathering and decision making. Parasympathetic dominance over sympathetic activity is particularly seen during threat-anticipatory freezing, an evolutionarily conserved response to threat demonstrated across species and characterized by immobility and bradycardia. Although this state of freezing has been linked to altered information processing and action preparation, a full theoretical treatment of the interactions with value-based decision making has not yet been achieved. Our neural framework, which we term the Threat State/Value Integration (TSI) Model, will illustrate how threat-induced bodily states may impact valuation of competing incentives at three stages of the decision-making process, namely at threat evaluation, integration of rewards and threats, and action initiation. Additionally, because altered parasympathetic activity and decision biases have been shown in anxious populations, we will end with discussing how biases in this system can lead to characteristic patterns of avoidance seen in anxiety-related disorders, motivating future pre-clinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. A. Livermore
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Felix H. Klaassen
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bob Bramson
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Anneloes M. Hulsman
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd W. Meijer
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Leslie Held
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Floris Klumpers
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Lycia D. de Voogd
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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9
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Woody ML, Vaughn-Coaxum RA, Siegle GJ, Price RB. Time course of pupillary response to threat words before and after attention bias modification for transdiagnostic anxiety disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01664. [PMID: 32633901 PMCID: PMC7428474 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Altered attention to threatening stimuli at initial and sustained stages of processing may be dissociable dimensions that influence the development and maintenance of transdiagnostic symptoms of anxiety, such as vigilance, and possibly require distinct intervention. Attention bias modification (ABM) interventions were created to implicitly train attention away from threatening stimuli and have shown efficacy in treating anxiety. ABM alters neurocognitive functioning during initial stages of threat processing, but less is known regarding effects of ABM on neural indices of threat processing at sustained (i.e., intermediate and late) stages, or if ABM-related neural changes relate to symptom response. The current study utilized pupillary response as a temporally sensitive and cost-effective peripheral marker of neurocognitive response to ABM. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a randomized controlled trial, 79 patients with transdiagnostic anxiety provided baseline data, 70 were randomized to receive eight sessions of twice-weekly ABM (n = 49) or sham training (n = 21), and 65 completed their assigned treatment condition and returned for post-training assessment. RESULTS Among ABM, but not sham, patients, pupillary response to threat words during initial and intermediate stages decreased from pre- to post-training. Pre- to post-training reductions in intermediate and late pupillary response to threat were positively correlated with reductions in patient-reported vigilance among ABM, but not sham, patients. CONCLUSIONS All measured stages of threat processing had relevance in understanding the neural mechanisms of ABM, with overlapping yet dissociable roles exhibited within a single neurophysiological marker across an initial-intermediate-late time continuum. Pupillometry may be well suited to measure both target engagement and treatment outcome following ABM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Woody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Greg J Siegle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca B Price
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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10
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van ‘t Veer AE, Thijssen S, Witteman J, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. Exploring the neural basis for paternal protection: an investigation of the neural response to infants in danger. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:447-457. [PMID: 30847472 PMCID: PMC6523437 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Perceiving potential threat to an infant and responding to it is crucial for offspring survival and parent–child bonding. Using a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and multi-informant reports, this longitudinal study explores the neural basis for paternal responses to threat to infants pre-natally (N = 21) and early post-natally (n = 17). Participants viewed videos showing an infant in danger and matched control videos, while instructed to imagine that the infant was their own or someone else’s. Effects were found for infant-threatening vs neutral situations in the amygdala (region-of-interest analyses) and in clusters spanning cortical and subcortical areas (whole-brain analyses). An interaction effect revealed increased activation for own (vs unknown) infants in threatening (vs neutral) situations in bilateral motor areas, possibly indicating preparation for action. Post-natal activation patterns were similar; however, in part of the superior frontal gyrus the distinction between threat to own and unknown infant faded. Fathers showing more protective behavior in daily life recruited part of the frontal pole more when confronted with threat to their own vs an unknown infant. This exploratory study is the first to describe neural mechanisms involved in paternal protection and provides a basis for future work on fathers’ protective parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E van ‘t Veer
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Correspondence should be addressed to Anna van ‘t Veer, Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, the Netherlands. E-mail:
| | - Sandra Thijssen
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jurriaan Witteman
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marinus H van IJzendoorn
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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11
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Lisk S, Vaswani A, Linetzky M, Bar-Haim Y, Lau JYF. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Eye-Tracking of Attention to Threat in Child and Adolescent Anxiety. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 59:88-99.e1. [PMID: 31265874 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Attention biases for threat may reflect an early risk marker for anxiety disorders. Yet questions remain regarding the direction and time-course of anxiety-linked biased attention patterns in youth. A meta-analysis of eye-tracking studies of biased attention for threat was used to compare the presence of an initial vigilance toward threat and a subsequent avoidance in anxious and nonanxious youths. METHOD PubMed, PsycARTICLES, Medline, PsychINFO, and Embase were searched using anxiety, children and adolescent, and eye-tracking-related key terms. Study inclusion criteria were as follows: studies including participants ≤18 years of age; reported anxiety using standardized measures; measured attention bias using eye tracking with a free-viewing task; comparison of attention toward threatening and neutral stimuli; and available data to allow effect size computation for at least one relevant measure. A random effects model estimated between- and within-group effects of first fixations toward threat and overall dwell time on threat. RESULTS Thirteen eligible studies involving 798 participants showed that neither youths with or without anxiety showed significant bias in first fixation to threat versus neutral stimuli. However anxious youths showed significantly less overall dwell time on threat versus neutral stimuli than nonanxious controls (g = -0.26). CONCLUSION Contrasting with adult eye-tracking data and child and adolescent data from reaction time indices of attention biases to threat, there was no vigilance bias toward threat in anxious youths. Instead, anxious youths were more avoidant of threat across the time course of stimulus viewing. Developmental differences in brain circuits contributing to attention deployment to emotional stimuli and their relationship with anxiety are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Lisk
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London
| | - Ayesha Vaswani
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London
| | - Marian Linetzky
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Yair Bar-Haim
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Jennifer Y F Lau
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.
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12
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DeLaRosa BL, Spence JS, Didehbani N, Tillman GD, Motes MA, Bass C, Kraut MA, Hart J. Neurophysiology of threat processing bias in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 41:218-229. [PMID: 31584243 PMCID: PMC7268056 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that may develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Combat exposure increases an individual's chance of developing PTSD, making veterans especially susceptible to the disorder. PTSD is characterized by dysregulated emotional networks, memory deficits, and a hyperattentive response to perceived threatening stimuli. Recently, there have been a number of imaging studies that show structural and functional abnormalities associated with PTSD; however, there have been few studies utilizing electroencephalography (EEG). The goal of this study was to characterize **EEG brain dynamics in individuals with PTSD, in order to better understand the neurophysiological underpinnings of some of the salient features of PTSD, such as threat‐processing bias. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom completed an implicit visual threat semantic memory recognition task with stimuli that varied on both category (animals, items, nature, and people) and feature (threatening and nonthreatening) membership, including trauma‐related stimuli. Combat veterans with PTSD had slower reaction times for the threatening stimuli relative to the combat veterans without PTSD (VETC). There were trauma‐specific effects in frontal regions, with theta band EEG power reductions for the threatening combat scenes in the PTSD patients compared to the VETC group. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was observed between trauma‐specific frontal theta power and hyperarousal symptoms as measured by clinically administered PTSD scale. These findings complement and extend current models of cortico‐limbic dysfunction in PTSD. The moderate negative correlation between frontal theta power and hyperarousal endorsements suggests the utility of these measures as therapeutic markers of symptomatology in PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bambi L DeLaRosa
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jeffrey S Spence
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nyaz Didehbani
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Gail D Tillman
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Michael A Motes
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Christina Bass
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Michael A Kraut
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.,Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - John Hart
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.,Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern, Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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13
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Blair RJR, White SF, Tyler PM, Johnson K, Lukoff J, Thornton LC, Leiker EK, Filbey F, Dobbertin M, Blair KS. Threat Responsiveness as a Function of Cannabis and Alcohol Use Disorder Severity. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2019; 29:526-534. [PMID: 31170004 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2019.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Two of the most commonly abused substances by adolescents in the United States are alcohol and cannabis, both of which are associated with adverse medical and psychiatric outcomes throughout the lifespan. Both are assumed to impact the development of emotional processing although findings on the direction of this impact have been mixed. Preclinical animal work and some functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) work with humans have suggested cannabis use disorder (CUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are associated with increased threat responsiveness. However, other fMRI work has indicated CUD/AUD are associated with diminished threat responsiveness. In this study, we report on a study examining the relationship of severity of CUD/AUD and threat responsiveness in an adolescent population. Methods: The study involved 87 (43 male) adolescents with varying levels of CUD/AUD symptomatology (N = 45 above clinical cutoffs for CUD or AUD). They were scanned with fMRI during a looming threat task that involved images of threatening and neutral human faces or animals that appeared to be either looming or receding. Results: Increasing levels of CUD symptomatology were associated with decreased responding to looming stimuli within regions, including rostral frontal and fusiform gyrus as well as the amygdala. There were no relationships with AUD symptomatology. Conclusions: These data indicate that CUD in particular is associated with a decrease in responsiveness to the looming threat cue possibly relating to the putative neurotoxic impact of cannabis abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert James R Blair
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Stuart F White
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Patrick M Tyler
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Kimberly Johnson
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Jennie Lukoff
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Laura C Thornton
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Emily K Leiker
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Francesca Filbey
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Matt Dobbertin
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
| | - Karina S Blair
- Center for Neurobehavioral Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska
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14
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Butterfield RD, Siegle GJ, Lee KH, Ladouceur CD, Forbes EE, Dahl RE, Ryan ND, Sheeber L, Silk JS. Parental coping socialization is associated with healthy and anxious early-adolescents' neural and real-world response to threat. Dev Sci 2019; 22:e12812. [PMID: 30746855 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The ways parents socialize their adolescents to cope with anxiety (i.e., coping socialization) may be instrumental in the development of threat processing and coping responses. Coping socialization may be important for anxious adolescents, as they show altered neural threat processing and over reliance on disengaged coping (e.g., avoidance and distraction), which can maintain anxiety. We investigated whether coping socialization was associated with anxious and healthy adolescents' neural response to threat, and whether neural activation was associated with disengaged coping. Healthy and clinically anxious early adolescents (N = 120; M = 11.46 years; 71 girls) and a parent engaged in interactions designed to elicit adolescents' anxiety and parents' response to adolescents' anxiety. Parents' use of reframing and problem solving statements was coded to measure coping socialization. In a subsequent visit, we assessed adolescents' neural response to threat words during a neuroimaging task. Adolescents' disengaged coping was measured using ecological momentary assessment. Greater coping socialization was associated with lower anterior insula and perigenual cingulate activation in healthy adolescents and higher activation in anxious adolescents. Coping socialization was indirectly associated with less disengaged coping for anxious adolescents through neural activation. Findings suggest that associations between coping socialization and early adolescents' neural response to threat differ depending on clinical status and have implications for anxious adolescents' coping.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Greg J Siegle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kyung Hwa Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Cecile D Ladouceur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Erika E Forbes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ronald E Dahl
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Neal D Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jennifer S Silk
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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15
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Kovner R, Fox AS, French DA, Roseboom PH, Oler JA, Fudge JL, Kalin NH. Somatostatin Gene and Protein Expression in the Non-human Primate Central Extended Amygdala. Neuroscience 2019; 400:157-168. [PMID: 30610938 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in central extended amygdala (EAc) function have been linked to anxiety, depression, and anxious temperament (AT), the early-life risk to develop these disorders. The EAc is composed of the central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), and the sublenticular extended amygdala (SLEA). Using a non-human primate model of AT and multimodal neuroimaging, the Ce and the BST were identified as key AT-related regions. Both areas are primarily comprised of GABAergic neurons and the lateral Ce (CeL) and lateral BST (BSTL) have among the highest expression of neuropeptides in the brain. Somatostatin (SST) is of particular interest because mouse studies demonstrate that SST neurons, along with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons, contribute to a threat-relevant EAc microcircuit. Although the distribution of CeL and BSTL SST neurons has been explored in rodents, this system is not well described in non-human primates. In situ hybridization demonstrated an anterior-posterior gradient of SST mRNA in the CeL but not the BSTL of non-human primates. Triple-labeling immunofluorescence staining revealed that SST protein-expressing cell bodies are a small proportion of the total CeL and BSTL neurons and have considerable co-labeling with CRF. The SLEA exhibited strong SST mRNA and protein expression, suggesting a role for SST in mediating information transfer between the CeL and BSTL. These data provide the foundation for mechanistic non-human primate studies focused on understanding EAc function in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rothem Kovner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Delores A French
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Patrick H Roseboom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jonathan A Oler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Julie L Fudge
- Department of Psychiatry, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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16
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Rabellino D, D'Andrea W, Siegle G, Frewen PA, Minshew R, Densmore M, Neufeld RW, Théberge J, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. Neural correlates of heart rate variability in PTSD during sub- and supraliminal processing of trauma-related cues. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:4898-4907. [PMID: 28714594 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by dysregulated arousal and altered cardiac autonomic response as evidenced by decreased high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), an indirect measure of parasympathetic modulation of the heart. Indeed, subtle threatening cues can cause autonomic dysregulation, even without explicit awareness of the triggering stimulus. Accordingly, examining the neural underpinnings associated with HF-HRV during both sub- and supraliminal exposure to trauma-related cues is critical to an enhanced understanding of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in PTSD. METHODS We compared neural activity in brain regions associated with HF-HRV in PTSD (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 18) during exposure to sub- and supraliminal processing of personalized trauma-related words. RESULTS As compared to controls, PTSD exhibited decreased HF-HRV reactivity in response to sub- and supraliminal cues. Notably, during subliminal processing of trauma-related versus neutral words, as compared to controls, PTSD showed decreased neural response associated with HF-HRV within the left dorsal anterior insula. By contrast, during supraliminal processing of trauma-related versus neutral words, decreased neural activity associated with HF-HRV within the posterior insula/superior temporal cortex, and increased neural activity associated with HF-HRV within the left centromedial amygdala was observed in PTSD as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Impaired parasympathetic modulation of autonomic arousal in PTSD appears related to altered activation of cortical and subcortical regions involved in the central autonomic network. Interestingly, both sub- and supraliminal trauma-related cues appear to elicit dysregulated arousal and may contribute to the maintenance of hyperarousal in PTSD. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4898-4907, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rabellino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wendy D'Andrea
- Department of Psychology, The New School, New York, New York
| | - Greg Siegle
- Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Paul A Frewen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reese Minshew
- Department of Psychology, The New School, New York, New York.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard W Neufeld
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret C McKinnon
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
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17
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Schulte Holthausen B, Habel U, Kellermann T, Schelenz PD, Schneider F, Christopher Edgar J, Turetsky BI, Regenbogen C. Task-irrelevant fear enhances amygdala-FFG inhibition and decreases subsequent face processing. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:1440-8. [PMID: 27272198 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial threat is associated with changes in limbic activity as well as modifications in the cortical face-related N170. It remains unclear if task-irrelevant threat modulates the response to a subsequent facial stimulus, and whether the amygdala's role in early threat perception is independent and direct, or modulatory. In 19 participants, crowds of emotional faces were followed by target faces and a rating task while simultaneous EEG-fMRI were recorded. In addition to conventional analyses, fMRI-informed EEG analyses and fMRI dynamic causal modeling (DCM) were performed. Fearful crowds reduced EEG N170 target face amplitudes and increased responses in a fMRI network comprising insula, amygdala and inferior frontal cortex. Multimodal analyses showed that amygdala response was present ∼60 ms before the right fusiform gyrus-derived N170. DCM indicated inhibitory connections from amygdala to fusiform gyrus, strengthened when fearful crowds preceded a target face. Results demonstrated the suppressing influence of task-irrelevant fearful crowds on subsequent face processing. The amygdala may be sensitive to task-irrelevant fearful crowds and subsequently strengthen its inhibitory influence on face-responsive fusiform N170 generators. This provides spatiotemporal evidence for a feedback mechanism of the amygdala by narrowing attention in order to focus on potential threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Schulte Holthausen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany JARA Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich/52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany JARA Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich/52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thilo Kellermann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany JARA Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich/52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick D Schelenz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Frank Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany JARA Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich/52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - J Christopher Edgar
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruce I Turetsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christina Regenbogen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany JARA Translational Brain Medicine, 52428 Jülich/52074 Aachen, Germany Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
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18
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Abstract
When organisms confront unpleasant objects in their natural environments, they engage in behaviors that allow them to avoid aversive outcomes. Here, we linked visual processing of threat to its behavioral consequences by including a motor response that terminated exposure to an aversive event. Dense-array steady-state visual evoked potentials were recorded in response to conditioned threat and safety signals viewed in active or passive behavioral contexts. The amplitude of neuronal responses in visual cortex increased additively, as a function of emotional value and action relevance. The gain in local cortical population activity for threat relative to safety cues persisted when aversive reinforcement was behaviorally terminated, suggesting a lingering emotionally based response amplification within the visual system. Distinct patterns of long-range neural synchrony emerged between the visual cortex and extravisual regions. Increased coupling between visual and higher-order structures was observed specifically during active perception of threat, consistent with a reorganization of neuronal populations involved in linking sensory processing to action preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Miskovic
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA, and Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA, and Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Andreas Keil
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA, and Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA, and Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Berggren N, Richards A, Taylor J, Derakshan N. Affective attention under cognitive load: reduced emotional biases but emergent anxiety-related costs to inhibitory control. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:188. [PMID: 23717273 PMCID: PMC3652291 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trait anxiety is associated with deficits in attentional control, particularly in the ability to inhibit prepotent responses. Here, we investigated this effect while varying the level of cognitive load in a modified antisaccade task that employed emotional facial expressions (neutral, happy, and angry) as targets. Load was manipulated using a secondary auditory task requiring recognition of tones (low load), or recognition of specific tone pitch (high load). Results showed that load increased antisaccade latencies on trials where gaze toward face stimuli should be inhibited. This effect was exacerbated for high anxious individuals. Emotional expression also modulated task performance on antisaccade trials for both high and low anxious participants under low cognitive load, but did not influence performance under high load. Collectively, results (1) suggest that individuals reporting high levels of anxiety are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cognitive load on inhibition, and (2) support recent evidence that loading cognitive processes can reduce emotional influences on attention and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Berggren
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Anne Richards
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Joseph Taylor
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Nazanin Derakshan
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of LondonLondon, UK
- St Johns College Research Centre, St Johns College, University of OxfordOxford, UK
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