nuts & bolts plan for today very brief cumulative review lecture (davidson & gable papers)...

Nuts & Bolts Plan for Today

• Very brief cumulative review

• Lecture (Davidson & Gable papers)

• Take-home critical thinking questions

Moods, thoughts, and behavior are determined by

A. The situationB. T&PC. Both

The situation

T&PBoth

0% 0%0%

Longitudinal research studies…

A. Provide strong evidence that antecedants (childhood) predict consequences (adulthood), a precondition for establishing causation

B. Complex, costly, and time-consuming

C. Can not prove causation, because they do not manipulate the putative cause of the outcome

D. All of the above Provid

e stro

ng evid

ence t..

Complex, costl

y, and tim...

Can not p

rove ca

usation,...

All of t

he above

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The key take home point from Block’s critique is that the FFM

A. Is a bunch of hooeyB. Reflects the

fundamental nature of T&P

C. Is a convenient short-hand, a sometimes useful fiction that begs for additional research Is

a bunch of h

Reflects th

e fundamental...

Is a co

nvenient short-

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The Five Factor Model (FFM) is predicated on the ‘lexical hypothesis,’ the assumption that the deep structure of T&P is embedded in our natural language, waiting to be discovered.

What are some concerns with this assumption?

A. Meaningful aspects of T&P may not be captured by single word

B. Key aspects of T&P might be too complex for single words, requiring phrases, sentences, or even whole paragraphs of words

C. No guarantee that words (natural language) will permit the expression of scientifically crucial aspects of personality

D. All of the above

ingful a

spects

of T..

Key aspects

of T&P m

ight ..

No guarantee that

words...

All of t

he above

0% 0%0%0%

PSYC 612:

What exactly do trait-like individual differences in T&P do?

AJ Shackman6 October 2014

Today’s Conceptual Roadmap• What does T&P do?

• What does it mean to say that individuals differ in terms of the brain’s reactivity to trait-relevant cues and contexts?

• How does T&P influence our daily experience?– Does it influence mood, exposure to rewards and

punishments, or both?

First, some background

Two Ideas

T&P is ‘Active’ in the Absence of External Challenge; Embodied in the Ongoing Activity of the Brain

Two Ideas

Interaction (Tonic Activation) Model

Traits x Trait-Relevant Challenges States

Two Ideas

Interaction (Tonic Activation) Model

Traits x Trait-Relevant Challenges States

Core idea is that trait = bigger reaction in relevant brain systems

More trait, more “activation”

Hi Trait e.g. N/NELo Trait e.g. N/NE

Bigger Peak Reactivity

But is it only a difference in the peak?

Bigger Peak Reactivity

Students?

What was Richie’s perspective?

Not necessarily just the peak

Other parameters may be crucial

Not Necessarily the Peak

Recovery Time (Regulation/Decay)“Mood Spillover”

Peak Amplitude

Rise Time to Peak

Peak Amplitude

Rise Time to Peak

Threshold

weak medium strong

Hypothesized Brain Substrate for Behavioral Inhibition

Behaviorally inhibited children are

“born with a lower threshold for arousal of various brain regions, in particular the amygdala”

-- New York Times Magazine piece on Jerry Kagan

React Recover

A Second Example

Jenni BlackfordVanderbilt

Amygdala

* Remember: behavioral inhibition is a facet of N/NE

…more enduring activation in the amygdala to emotional faces. There were not a significant difference in the peak response.

Behaviorally inhibited subjects show…

Amygdala

* Remember: behavioral inhibition is a facet of N/NE

What about daily experience?

First, some theory

2 Fundamental DimensionsReward

CuesPunishment

Behavior Approach (Passive) Avoidancee.g., freezing, BI

Motivation Appetitive Aversive

Emotions Excitement, Joy(and Anger, when goals

are thwarted)

Anxiety

Substrate Behavioral Activation System (BAS)

Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)

“Wanting” (Not “Liking” or pleasure)

CuesPunishment

are thwarted)

Anxiety

CuesPunishment

are thwarted)

Anxiety

CuesPunishment

are thwarted)

Anxiety

CuesPunishment

are thwarted)

Anxiety

CuesPunishment

are thwarted)

Anxiety

CuesPunishment

Behavior Approach (Passive) Avoidancee.g., freezing, BI, caution, risk assessment/vigilance

are thwarted)

Anxiety

How do the BIS (punishment sensitivity) and BAS (reward sensitivity) map onto the consensual model of T&P?

Students: Are they synonymous with N/NE and E/PE?

Mapping to the Consensual Model: BIS

Caspi et al Ann Rev Psychol 2005

Neurobiology of BIS

Are individual differences in the BIS discernible in the brain’s activity at rest?

Right vs. Left

frontal EEG asymmetry and BIS

Trait Anxiety (BIS)

Shackman et al., Psychol Sci, 2009

Right > Left

frontal EEG asymmetry and BIS

Shackman et al., 2009 N = 51; p < .05, corr.

• Trait-like stability

• Heritable

• Correlated with self-reported trait anxiety (BIS, STAI) and predicts threat-induced anxiety in adults

• Predicts threat-induced behavioral inhibition and cortisol in children and monkeys

• Associated with anxiety disorders and ‘normalized’ by anxiolytic drugs

• Neurofeedback manipulations of resting asymmetry can attenuate threat-induced anxiety

reviewed in Shackman et al., submitted; Nusslock, Shackman, Coan, Harmon-Jones, Alloy & Abramson, J Abnorm Psych, 2011

Right > Left

frontal EEG asymmetry

• Heritable

Right > Left

• Heritable

Right > Left

• Heritable

Right > Left

• Heritable

Right > Left

• Heritable

• Direct manipulations of resting EEG asymmetry using neurofeedback can attenuate threat- induced anxiety

Right > Left

Shackman et al., 2009

EEG source modeling

N = 51; p < .05, corr.

estimated cortical current density and BIS

Shackman et al., 2009

What about the BAS?

Mapping to the Consensual Model: BAS

L > R has been linked to … • Individual differences in E/PE and BAS [at rest]

• Positive emotional states elicited by film clips

• Anger (thwarted or stymied approach)

• “Wanting” (appetitive drive) during the anticipation of monetary reward in unselected Ss

• “Wanting” during the anticipation of smoking in nicotine deprived smokers

• “Wanting” during the anticipation of mom’s return following brief separation in young children

• Depressed (anhedonic) Pps show reduction at baseline … more about this later!

Left > Right

frontal EEG asymmetry and BAS

Left > Right

• Depressed (anhedonic) patients show reduction at baseline (“resting EEG”)

Left > Right

depression

Reduced Left > Right

depression

FEA = frontal EEG asymmetry

BIS and BAS do not just reflectactivity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC)

More details in future lectures

Measuring individual differencesin BIS/BAS

Students—

How is the BIS/BAS scale supposed to be different than other self-report measures of T&P?

Most T&P Questionnaires

Please answer each of the following items basedon how you generally feel or how you typically behave

I am generally anxious

From day to day, I tend to be excited, proud, and confident

Most days, most of the time, I am worried

Theory: Sensitivity vs. Typical Experience

Carver & White JPSP 1994

Proneness; Not necessarily experience“Gray characterized the quality of personality deriving from BIS sensitivity as anxiety proneness [not anxiety having-ness]. This dimension appears relatively straightforward conceptually.”

“The problem is that although a person with high BIS sensitivity is vulnerable to anxiety in certain situations, this person may also learn to avoid anxiety-provoking situation much of the time and consequently experience relatively little anxiety on a day-to-day basis”

Behavior can change exposure to Rew/Pun and regulate daily emotion“one who realized the vulnerability and arranged his or her life to avoid threatening situations would not be especially prone to experience negative affect moment to moment and thus would not have a high standing on the Negative Emotionality scale.”

Behavior could change exposure to Rew/Pun, altering daily emotion“one who realized the vulnerability and arranged his or her life to avoid threatening situations would not be especially prone to experience negative affect moment to moment and thus would not have a high standing on the Negative Emotionality scale.”

What does T&P do? Alters exposure via biases in approach and avoidanceCarver & White JPSP 1994

Is this theory true?

Does it apply equally to the BIS (avoid punishments) and BAS (approach rewards)?

Daily Diary

Gable’s data support 3 key conclusions

Traits StatesTraits predict mood• Higher BAS Increased daily PA• Higher BIS Increased daily NA• Consistent with the evidence reviewed in the Matthews

chapter indicating that Traits promote Trait-related States

High BIS Enhanced ReactivityBIS predicts reactivity to daily hassles and stress• High-BIS individuals showed increased negative affect to

negative life events and daily hassles• Experienced the same stressors as more distressing• This was above and beyond their generally higher level

of negative affect

1 2 3 4 5 6 7-1

High BISLow BIS

Reactivity

General Mood

of negative affect

1 2 3 4 5 6 7-1

High BISLow BIS

Reactivity

General Mood

of negative affect

1 2 3 4 5 6 7-1

High BISLow BIS

Reactivity

General Mood

of negative affect

1 2 3 4 5 6 7-1

High BISLow BIS

Reactivity

General Mood

High BAS More Positive EventsBAS predicts more frequent positive daily events

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

High BASLow BAS

High BAS More Positive EventsBAS predicts more frequent positive daily events

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

High BASLow BAS

High BAS More Positive EventsMore frequent positive daily events explained increased PA in individuals with higher levels of BAS

Higher BAS More Positive Affect

More FrequentPositive Daily Events

High BAS More Positive EventsMore frequent positive daily events explained increased PA in individuals with higher levels of BAS

Higher BAS More Positive Affect

More FrequentPositive Daily Events

In SummaryTrait BIS: Emotional States• Influences NA (state) via differential reactivity to

negative events• Reactive

Trait BAS: Behavior Emotion• Influences PA via differential exposure to positive events• Positive events may be less likely to occur without active

initiation• Positive events must be sought out, and the BAS

regulates approach (appetitive motivation; wanting)• Proactive

Trait BAS: Behavior Emotion• Influences PA via differential exposure to positive events• Positive events may be less likely to occur without active

Trait BAS: Behavior Emotional States• Influences PA via differential exposure to positive events• Positive events may be less likely to occur without active

Key Take Home Points

T&P—It ain’t just the peak amplitude

Key Take Home Points for Today’s Meeting

In prior lectures, we discussed evidence that T&P represents a diathesis that leads to enhanced emotion in the presence of trait-relevant cues

Today, we reviewed evidence that T&P can also alter the probability of encountering trait-relevant cues (rewards and punishments) in the environment

This demonstrates that traits can influence motivated behavior (approach and avoidance)—even when emotionally-salient stimuli are absent

And it may reflect enduring differences in the spontaneous, on-going activity or connectivity of the brain (EEG, FDG-PET, resting-state fMRI)

4 Critical Thinking Questions

Please respond to any 2

Critical Thinking Question #1

Critical Thinking Question #1Contrary to Gable, other research indicates that individuals with high levels of N/NE encounter more frequent negative life events and daily stressors (Magnus et al. 1993; Ormel & Wohlfarth, 1991; Affleck et al. 1994; Bolger & Schilling 1991; Bolger & Zuckerman 1995; David et al 1997; Gunthert et al 1999; Suls et al 1998).

Why didn’t Gable see this ‘differential exposure?’

Might it reflect the BIS/BAS scales?

Critical Thinking Question #1Contrary to Gable, other research indicates that individuals with high levels of N/NE encounter more frequent negative life events and daily stressors (Magnus et al. 1993; Ormel & Wohlfarth, 1991; Affleck et al. 1994; Bolger & Schilling 1991; Bolger & Zuckerman 1995; David et al 1997; Gunthert et al 1999; Suls et al 1998).

Why didn’t Gable see this ‘differential exposure?’

Might it reflect her use of the BIS/BAS scales?

The Scales

BISEven if something bad is about to happen to me, I rarely experience fear or nervousness. I feel pretty worried or upset when I think or know somebody is angry at me. If I think something unpleasant is going to happen I usually get pretty "worked up." I feel worried when I think I have done poorly at something important. I have very few fears compared to my friends. I worry about making mistakes. Criticism or scolding hurts me quite a bit.

Notice 1. Many of the items are focused on situations where overt threat is absent, distal, or

ambiguous

2. None directly indexes avoidance or inhibition, contrary to The Theory

BASI go out of my way to get things I want. When I'm doing well at something I love to keep at it. I'm always willing to try something new if I think it will be fun. When I get something I want, I feel excited and energized. When I want something I usually go all-out to get it. I will often do things for no other reason than that they might be fun.If I see a chance to get something I want I move on it right away. When I see an opportunity for something I like I get excited right away. I often act on the spur of the moment. When good things happen to me, it affects me strongly. I crave excitement and new sensations.When I go after something I use a "no holds barred" approach. It would excite me to win a contest.

Critical Thinking Question #2In prior lectures, we have discussed the potential limitations of introspective self-report measures of T&P (e.g., insensitivity to processes that lie outside of conscious awareness, biases, mnemonic artifacts, mash-up readout).

To what degree might Gable’s results reflect trait-like differences in the way that people think about, rate, appraise, or label their emotions and daily experiences, rather than true differences in emotional states or stress exposure? How might one circumvent this in future research?

Critical Thinking Question #3Individuals characterized by low BAS are vulnerable to depression

Briefly describe why this might be so using the key results from the Gable study. Briefly describe a study that would allow you to test your hypothesis.

Low BAS Increased p(MDD Dx)

Watson Ann Rev Clin Psychol 2009

Critical Thinking Question #3Individuals characterized by low BAS are vulnerable to depression

Briefly describe why this might be so using the key results from the Gable study. Briefly describe a study that would allow you to test your hypothesis.

Low BAS Increased p(MDD Dx)Why ????

To what degree might Gable’s results reflect trait-like differences in the way that people think about, rate, appraise, or label their emotions and daily experiences, rather than true differences in emotional states? How might one circumvent this in future research?

Critical Thinking Question #4Today, I suggested that BAS influences exposure to positive events via approach behaviors

(e.g., attending or organizing a party)

Briefly describe another possible explanatory mechanisms

For example, might high-BAS individuals evoke more positive reactions from others?

Critical Thinking Question #4Today, I suggested that BAS influences exposure to positive events via approach behaviors

(e.g., attending or organizing a party)

Briefly describe another possible explanatory mechanisms

For example, might high-BAS individuals evoke more positive reactions from others?

The End

Stuff for Future Semesters

Clark & Watson (1991) synthesized the accumulating evidence into their tripartite model of depression and anxiety. This model grouped depression and anxiety symptoms into three basic subtypes. First, many symptoms are strong indicators of a general distress or negative affect factor. This nonspecific group includes both anxious and depressed mood, as well as other symptoms that are prevalent in both depression and anxiety. The other two symptom groups represent the unique, distinguishing aspects of each syndrome: somatic hyperarousal (e.g., shortness of breath, dizziness) is specific to anxiety, whereas anhedonia and low positive mood (e.g., loss of interest, feeling that nothing is enjoyable) are relatively specific to depression. Barlow and his colleagues subsequently articulated a similar three-factor model (Barlow et al. 1996, Chorpita et al. 1998).

Shackman et al., Psychol Sci, 2009

The Trait-Like Phenotype

The interviewer asks Kagan’s Baby 19 [now 15 yrs] what she worries about.

“I don’t know,” Baby 19 says after a long pause, twirling her hair faster, touching her face, her knee. She smiles a little, shrugs. Another pause. And then the list of troubles spills out: “When I don’t quite know what to do and it’s really frustrating and I feel really uncomfortable, especially if other people around me know what they’re doing. I’m always thinking, Should I go here? Should I go there? Am I in someone’s way? ... I worry about things like getting projects done... I think, Will I get it done? How am I going to do it? ... If I’m going to be in a big crowd, it makes me nervous about what I’m going to do and say and what other people are going to do and say.” Baby 19 is wringing her hands now. “How I’m going to deal with the world when I’m grown. “

The Hypothesized Brain Substrate

“In the brain, these thoughts can often be traced to overreactivity in the amygdala, a small site in the middle of the brain that…responds to novelty and threat. When the amygdala works as it should, it orchestrates a physiological response to changes in the environment. That response includes heightened memory for emotional experiences andthe familiar chest pounding of fight or flight.

But in people born with a particular brain circuitry, the kind seen in Kagan’s high-reactive study Ss, the amygdala is hyperreactive, prickly as a haywire motion-detector light that turns on when nothing’s moving but the rain.”

nuts & bolts plan for today very brief cumulative review lecture (davidson & gable papers)...

Documents

traits tp

traitrelevant cues

nnelo trait

brain15more trait

meaningful aspects of

backgroundtwo ideas

deep structure of tp

single word key aspects