Negative valence systems: sustained threat and the predatory imminence continuum

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Comparative Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Negative Valence System models threat responses.
• The Predatory Imminence Continuum (PIC) describes antipredator defensive behaviors.
• Existing RDoC constructs align with early PIC defense modes, but 'Sustained Threat' requires re-evaluation.

Approach:

• Reviewing the relationship between RDoC threat constructs and PIC defense modes.
• Examining the role of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) and hippocampus in threat processing.
• Analyzing how stress impacts the PIC and defensive behavior.

Key Points:

• RDoC's 'Potential Threat' (anxiety) and 'Acute Threat' (fear) map to PIC's pre-encounter and post-encounter defense modes.
• The BST is crucial for expanding conditions triggering post-encounter defense, especially with unpredictable threats.
• Sustained threat arises from a distorted PIC, leading to inappropriate defensive behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The BST and hippocampus modulate the conditions for acute threat responses.
• Sustained threat represents a disruption of the PIC, potentially linked to chronic stress.
• Revising RDoC constructs may improve understanding of threat and defensive behaviors.