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Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Neural correlates of a computerized attention modification program in anxious subjects
Charles T Taylor1, Robin L Aupperle2, Taru Flagan2
1San Diego State University, Center for Treating and Understanding Anxiety, Department of Psychology, 6386 Alvarado Court, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92120, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 8939 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92037, Department of Psychology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 64110, Kansas City, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, United States San Diego State University, Center for Treating and Understanding Anxiety, Department of Psychology, 6386 Alvarado Court, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92120, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 8939 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92037, Department of Psychology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 64110, Kansas City, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, United States c1taylor@ucsd.edu.
Computerized attention modification programs (AMP) reduce anxiety by altering brain activity. This study shows AMP decreases amygdala activation and enhances prefrontal cortex regulation in social anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Computerized attention modification programs (AMP) are validated treatments for anxiety disorders.
- The neural mechanisms underlying AMP's effectiveness remain unclear.
- Understanding AMP's impact on brain function is crucial for optimizing anxiety treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a single AMP session on neural substrates of emotion processing in individuals with high social anxiety.
- To examine how AMP influences brain activation patterns related to threat perception and anxiety regulation.
- To correlate changes in brain activity with behavioral anxiety responses.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain activity before and after AMP.
- Participants with high social anxiety completed an emotional face processing task.
- Brain responses were measured during a laboratory stressor following AMP.
Main Results:
- AMP led to reduced activation in the amygdala, insula, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex.
- Post-AMP, increased activation was observed in prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions.
- Enhanced ventromedial PFC activation correlated with reduced threat attention and anxiety reactivity.
Conclusions:
- AMP modulates neural circuits involved in emotion processing and anxiety.
- AMP's effects on brain activity resemble those of traditional anxiolytics.
- AMP may promote top-down cognitive control mechanisms for anxiety regulation.
