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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
A reverse translational approach to quantify approach-avoidance conflict in humans.
Robin L Aupperle1, Sarah Sullivan, Andrew J Melrose
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC: 0603 La Jolla 92093-0603, CA, USA. aupperler@umkc.edu
Behavioural Brain Research
|August 17, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed a new approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) task to study anxiety in humans. This novel behavioral test shows promise for understanding anxiety disorders and motivational processes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Animal approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) paradigms are crucial for studying anxiety and anxiolytic effects.
- Limited behavioral methods exist to measure human conflict, hindering translation from animal models.
- This gap restricts understanding of anxiety disorders and related neural circuitry in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel human approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) paradigm.
- To assess the translational utility of the AAC task for clinical research.
- To investigate the relationship between conflict behavior, motivation, and anxiety in young adults.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel AAC task where decisions involve both reward (points) and punishment (negative stimuli).
- Administered the AAC task to 95 young adults with varying trait anxiety levels.
- Collected self-reported data on motivation, anxiety sensitivity, and behavioral activation.
Main Results:
- Approach behavior in the AAC task correlated with motivation to approach reward and avoid punishment.
- Higher reward levels increased approach behavior.
- Females showed less approach behavior than males, with sex-specific correlations observed for anxiety sensitivity and behavioral activation.
Conclusions:
- The AAC task demonstrates strong reverse translational potential, bridging animal and human research.
- Approach drives and anxiety sensitivity differentially influence conflict behavior in males and females.
- The AAC task provides a novel measure for investigating neural systems related to conflict, motivation, and anxiety disorders.
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