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努力，青少年物质使用和新出现的依赖问题仍在继续。为了加强预防工作，理论家们试图了解导致青少年药物滥用的病因和维持的因素。一些趋同的理论观点表明，减少或避免厌恶的内部状态（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。尽管药物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尚未在人类中得到很好的研究。因此，适当的行为评估策略的发展，特别是那些根据神经影像学考虑的策略，可以帮助我们提高对人类大脑参与的一系列过程的理解，以避免不良后果。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（气球模拟风险任务，BART），本R21申请的目标是开发一个平行版本的任务，重点关注负强化过程（BART- nr）。此外，该研究计划将解决单独使用行为测量时的局限性，因为它通常限于描述水平。为了解决这个问题，我们提出了使用高密度脑电图开发新的负强化BART，这项工作为未来使用fMRI方法的工作奠定了基础。我们将从10名参与者的试点测试开始，开发和完善145名年龄在15至17岁之间的青少年受试者的更大规模研究的方法和程序，以检查负强化任务中行为的神经生理（密集阵列脑电图）因素。我们的方法提供了一个超越描述的机会，以理解青少年物质使用和相关风险行为背后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，这项工作还可能对为有物质使用风险的青少年制定更有效和有针对性的干预措施具有更长远的应用意义；具体来说，那些使用物质或其他危险行为作为减少厌恶负面影响的手段的人。

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.