Use Electroencephalogram to Study Neural Dynamics of Fear Conditioning and Avoidance Learning Circuit in Humans

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine which event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related oscillations (EROs) are associated with fear conditioning, avoidance learning, and memory recall for fear and avoidance, where are the source generators of the observed scalp EEG activity, the impact of fear and avoidance learning on the decision to avoid or not to avoid conditioned stimuli , to examine the large-scale functional connectivity across distributed brain regions across experimental phases, and to examine whether spontaneous EEG data during resting-state correlate with the EEG measures during experimental tasks.

Condition

  • Neural Dynamics of the Acquisition and Retention of Fear Learning and Active Avoidance Learning

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 70 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of neurologic disease - History of seizure or significant head trauma/loss of consciousness - Significant serious psychiatric diagnosis - Significant suicidal ideation or behaviors - High risk of adverse emotional or behavioral reaction, and/or an inability to understand study procedures or the informed consent process, based on investigator/clinician clinical evaluation

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Conditioning and active avoidance paradigm (CAAP)
  • Behavioral: Conditioning and active avoidance paradigm (CAAP)
    On day 1 subjects will undergo image viewing, fear conditioning, and avoidance learning. Subjects will be instructed to passively view the images from 3 categories on the screen, with 2 of the 3 categories being paired with a mild shock to the subjects' foot. Then they will see a picture of a button on the screen together with all three categories. If they press the button, they may prevent the shock from occurring. Pressing the button for one of the conditioned categories will prevent the shock from happening. Pressing the button to the other conditioned cue will not prevent the shock .Pressing the button to the third category does nothing. On day 2, subjects will be given $5 and will be told that they can press a button to avoid a shock. The number of times the button was pressed will be counted and if it is less than the number by another randomly selected participant then the participant will get to keep the money.

Recruiting Locations

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas 77030
Contact:
Mohammed Milad, PhD
713-486-2700
Mohammed.R.Milad@uth.tmc.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study Contact

Mohammed Milad, PhD
(713) 486-2700
Mohammed.R.Milad@uth.tmc.edu