An fMRI Investigation of the Neural Pathways Behind Emotional Acceptance

描述(申请人提供)：这项研究的具体目标是使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)来更好地了解情绪接受作为一种情绪调节技术背后的神经机制，同时提供使用功能磁共振作为研究工具的宝贵培训。通过使用功能磁共振成像，这项拟议的研究将在临床样本中检查神经结构中的激活和去激活模式，同时参与情绪接受作为情绪调节策略。具体地说，本研究将考察以下几个方面：1)在负性情绪诱导过程中，“接受”状态下的特定感兴趣区(感兴趣区；杏仁核、脑岛、海马体、扣带回前皮质、眶前皮质、前额皮质)相对于“参加”和“抑制”状态的激活；2)接受过和没有接受过情绪接受技能训练的人在这两种状态下的激活模式的差异；以及3)激活模式的变化与自我报告的负面情绪主观体验的变化之间的关系。情绪接受技能的技能培训将基于目前在《情绪障碍治疗统一方案》(Barlow，Allen，Ellard&Fairholme，2008)中使用的程序，并将在治疗后成像会议之前进行五个1小时的会议。这项研究的更广泛的目的是在情感神经科学和情绪调节研究之间架起桥梁，以研究与情绪接受相关的神经机制，以更好地理解这种方法在治疗焦虑和情绪障碍方面的最终效用。公共卫生相关性：焦虑和情绪障碍扰乱了数百万美国人的生活，焦虑症的终生患病率估计为总人口的29%，情绪障碍的终生患病率为21%(Kessler等人，2005年)。此外，仅焦虑症每年就给这个国家造成了超过420亿美元的成本(Greenberg等人，1999)。通过了解情绪接受等情绪调节策略在情绪加工过程中如何影响皮质和边缘结构之间的沟通，我们不仅可以在神经水平上更好地理解焦虑和情绪障碍的病因，而且可以更好地理解如何使用统一的跨诊断方法有效地改善或纠正这些障碍中的不适应情绪加工。进行这项研究的经验将为追求长期职业目标提供坚实的基础--在情感神经科学和情绪调节研究之间架起桥梁，以改善焦虑和情绪障碍的心理社会治疗。

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.