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Neural systems underlying approach and avoidance in anxiety disorders
Robin L Aupperle1, Martin P Paulus
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), California 92037-0985, USA.
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience
|February 16, 2011
Summary
Approach-avoidance conflict research explores brain systems for decision-making. Dysfunctions in these neural systems, particularly involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, are linked to anxiety disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Approach-avoidance conflict is a key concept in understanding cognition and emotion.
- Neural systems underlying approach, avoidance, and conflict decision-making are crucial for psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neural systems involved in approach, avoidance, and conflict decision-making.
- To examine the overlap between these neural systems and the substrates of anxiety disorders.
- To propose hypotheses for how dysfunctions in these systems contribute to anxiety disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on neural systems.
- Discussion of the roles of amygdala, insula, ventral striatum, and prefrontal regions.
- Examination of decision-making paradigms and potential new translational approaches.
Main Results:
- The review discusses the involvement of specific brain regions (amygdala, insula, ventral striatum, prefrontal cortex) in approach and avoidance behaviors.
- Three hypotheses are proposed for anxiety disorder dysfunction: limbic overactivation, striatal activation abnormalities, and orbitofrontal cortex hypoactivation.
- Existing decision-making paradigms can be adapted, but novel methods may be needed.
Conclusions:
- Dysfunctions in neural systems for approach-avoidance conflict are implicated in anxiety disorders.
- Specific hypotheses involve altered valuation of approach and avoidance, and impaired integration of these signals.
- Further research using innovative experimental approaches is needed to understand these mechanisms in anxiety disorders.
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