An fMRI Investigation of the Neural Pathways Behind Emotional Acceptance

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific goals of the research study proposed for this fellowship are to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to gain a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying emotional acceptance as an emotion regulation technique, while simultaneously providing invaluable training in the use of fMRI as a research tool. Through the use of fMRI, the proposed study will examine patterns of activation and de-activation in neural structures while engaging in emotional acceptance as an emotion regulation strategy in a clinical sample. Specifically, this study will examine the following: 1) activation of specific regions of interest (ROIs; amygdala, insula, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex) of an "Accept" condition relative to "Attend" and "Suppress" conditions during a negative emotion induction; 2) differences in patterns of activation in these two conditions between those who have and have not undergone skills training in emotional acceptance as an emotion regulation strategy; and 3) the relationship between changes in patterns of activation and self-reported changes in the subjective experience of negative emotion. Skills training in emotional acceptance skills will be based upon procedures currently used in the Unified Protocol for the Treatment of Emotional Disorders (Barlow, Allen, Ellard & Fairholme, 2008), and will be carried out over five, 1-hour sessions prior to a post-treatment imaging session. The broader aim of this study is to bridge affective neuroscience and emotion regulation research to investigate the neural mechanisms associated with emotional acceptance to gain a better understanding of the ultimate utility of this approach as applied to the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Anxiety and mood disorders disrupt the lives of millions of Americans, with lifetime prevelance rates for anxiety disorders estimated at 29% of the population, and mood disorders at 21% (Kessler et al., 2005). Further, anxiety disorders alone represent a cost to this country of over $42 billion annually (Greenberg et al., 1999). It is hoped that by understanding how emotion regulation strategies such as emotional acceptance affect communication between cortical and limbic structures during emotional processing, we might gain a better understanding not only of the etiology of anxiety and mood disorders at a neural level, but also of how to effectively ameliorate or correct maladaptive emotional processing in these disorders using a unified, transdiagnostic approach. The experience of conducting this study will provide a strong foundation from which to pursue long-term career goals - to bridge affective neuroscience and emotion regulation research to improve psychosocial treatments for anxiety and mood disorders.