Citation

Kirlic N, Young JW, Aupperle RL. Behav. Res. Ther. 2017; 96: 14-29.

Affiliation

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States; School of Community Medicine, University of Tulsa, 800 S Tucker Dr, Tulsa, OK 74104, United States. Electronic address: raupperle@laureateinstitute.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.brat.2017.04.010

PMID

28495358

Abstract

Avoidance behavior in clinical anxiety disorders is often a decision made in response to approach-avoidance conflict, resulting in a sacrifice of potential rewards to avoid potential negative affective consequences. Animal research has a long history of relying on paradigms related to approach-avoidance conflict to model anxiety-relevant behavior. This approach includes punishment-based conflict, exploratory, and social interaction tasks. There has been a recent surge of interest in the translation of paradigms from animal to human, in efforts to increase generalization of findings and support the development of more effective mental health treatments. This article briefly reviews animal tests related to approach-avoidance conflict and results from lesion and pharmacologic studies utilizing these tests. We then provide a description of translational human paradigms that have been developed to tap into related constructs, summarizing behavioral and neuroimaging findings. Similarities and differences in findings from analogous animal and human paradigms are discussed. Lastly, we highlight opportunities for future research and paradigm development that will support the clinical utility of this translational work.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Anxiety; Approach-avoidance conflict; Decision-making; Fear; Translational