ERP Neurobehavioral Assessment of Negative Reinforcement in Adolescents

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管大规模的公共卫生工作，青少年物质使用和新出现的依赖性问题仍然存在。为了加强预防工作，理论家们试图了解有助于青少年物质滥用的病因和维持的因素。几个趋同的理论观点表明，减少或避免厌恶性内部状态（即，负强化）强烈地激发了成瘾性药物的使用。事实上，成人和青少年文献支持负强化过程在物质使用开始和依赖中的作用。尽管物质滥用的负强化模型被广泛接受，但该领域目前缺乏足够的行为策略来评估人类负强化过程的复杂性。此外，支持负强化过程的神经系统还没有在人类中得到很好的研究。因此，制定适当的行为评估策略，特别是那些由神经影像学考虑告知的策略，可以帮助我们更好地理解人类大脑参与的过程，以避免令人厌恶的结果。从一个经过充分验证的行为任务开始，该任务解决了物质使用的正强化方面（气球焦虑风险任务，BART），该R21应用程序的目标是开发一个专注于负强化过程（BART-NR）的任务的并行版本。此外，这项研究计划将解决行为测量单独使用时的局限性，因为它通常局限于描述的水平。为了解决这个问题，我们提出了新的负强化BART使用高密度EEG的发展，这项工作为未来的工作，使用功能磁共振成像方法。我们将开始一个试点测试，使用10名参与者开发和完善一个更大的研究的方法和程序，有足够的动力与145名青少年受试者，年龄在15和17岁之间，检查神经生理学（密集阵列脑电图）因素的行为在我们的负强化任务。我们的方法提供了一个超越描述的机会，了解青少年物质使用和相关风险行为的积极和消极强化过程的累积影响。除了在更基本的层面上增加知识外，这项工作还可能对开发更有效和有针对性的干预措施产生更长期的应用影响，这些干预措施针对有物质使用风险的青少年;特别是那些将物质使用或其他危险行为作为减少厌恶性负面影响的手段的青少年。 公共卫生相关性：目前的行为任务集中在物质使用的食欲和正强化方面，但在很大程度上忽略了负强化的关键并行过程。本申请的目标是开发一种全面的行为和神经生理学评估方法，以了解负强化在青少年物质使用中的作用，重点关注EEG方法的当前使用和fMRI适当版本的长期开发。除了在更基本的层面上增加知识外，这项工作还可能对开发更有效和有针对性的干预措施产生更长期的应用影响，这些干预措施针对有物质使用风险的青少年;特别是那些将物质使用或其他危险行为作为减少厌恶性负面影响的手段的青少年。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite large-scale public health efforts, the problem of adolescent substance use and emerging dependence continues. To enhance prevention efforts, theorists have sought to understand factors that contribute to the etiology and maintenance of adolescent substance misuse. Several converging theoretical perspectives suggest that the reduction or avoidance of aversive internal states (i.e., negative reinforcement) strongly motivates addictive drug use. Indeed, the adult and adolescent literatures support the role of negative reinforcement processes in both substance use initiation and dependence. Despite the widespread acceptance of negative reinforcement models of substance misuse, the field currently lacks adequate behavioral strategies to assess the complex nature of negative reinforcement processes in humans. Moreover, the neural systems that support negative reinforcement processes have not been well studied in humans. Thus, development of adequate behavioral assessment strategies, especially those informed by neuroimaging considerations, can aid in improving our understanding of the range of processes engaged by the human brain to avoid aversive outcomes. Starting with a well-validated behavioral task that addresses the positive reinforcement aspects of substance use (Balloon Analogue Risk Task, BART), the goal of this R21 application is to develop a parallel version of the task focused on negative reinforcement processes (BART-NR). Moreover, this program of research will address the limitation of behavioral measurement when used alone, in that it is restricted typically to the level of description. To address this issue, we propose the development of the new negative reinforcement BART using high density EEG, with this work setting the stage for future work using fMRI methods. We will begin with a pilot test using 10 participants to develop and refine the methods and procedures for a larger study adequately powered with 145 adolescent subjects, aged between 15 and 17 years, to examine neurophysiological (dense array EEG) factors underlying behavior on our negative reinforcement task. Our approach provides an opportunity to move beyond description into understanding the cumulative influence of positive and negative reinforcement processes underlying adolescent substance use and associated risk behavior. In addition to adding to knowledge at a more basic level, this work also may have more long-range applied implications for the development of more effective and targeted interventions for adolescents at risk for substance use; specifically, those for whom substance use or other risky behaviors serve as a means to reduce aversive negative affect. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Current behavioral tasks focus on the appetitive and positive reinforcement aspects of substance use but largely ignore the crucial parallel processes of negative reinforcement. The goal of this application is to develop a comprehensive behavioral and neurophysiological assessment approach for understanding the role of negative reinforcement in adolescent substance use, with a focus on the current use of EEG methods and longer-term development of an fMRI-appropriate version. In addition to adding to knowledge at a more basic level, this work also may have more long-range applied implications for the development of more effective and targeted interventions for adolescents at risk for substance use; specifically, those for whom substance use or other risky behaviors serve as a means to reduce aversive negative affect.