Neural correlates and determinants of approach-avoidance conflict in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex

The recollection of environmental cues associated with threat or reward allows animals to select the most appropriate behavioral responses. Neurons in the prelimbic cortex (PL) respond to both threat- and reward-associated cues. However, it remains unknown whether PL regulates threat-avoidance vs. reward-approaching responses when an animals' decision depends on previously associated memories. Using a conflict model in which male Long-Evans rats retrieve memories of shock- and food-paired cues, we observed two distinct phenotypes during conflict: i) rats that continued to press a lever for food (Pressers); and ii) rats that exhibited a complete suppression in food seeking (Non-pressers). Single-unit recordings revealed that increased risk-taking behavior in Pressers is associated with persistent food-cue responses in PL, and reduced spontaneous activity in PL glutamatergic (PLGLUT) neurons during conflict. Activating PLGLUT neurons in Pressers attenuated food-seeking responses in a neutral context, whereas inhibiting PLGLUT neurons in Non-pressers reduced defensive responses and increased food approaching during conflict. Our results establish a causal role for PLGLUT neurons in mediating individual variability in memory-based risky decision making by regulating threat-avoidance vs. reward-approach behaviors.

Cross-species anxiety tests in psychiatry: pitfalls and promises

Behavioural anxiety tests in non-human animals are used for anxiolytic drug discovery, and to investigate the neurobiology of threat avoidance. Over the past decade, several of them were translated to humans with three clinically relevant goals: to assess potential efficacy of candidate treatments in healthy humans; to develop diagnostic tests or biomarkers; and to elucidate the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. In this review, we scrutinise these promises and compare seven anxiety tests that are validated across species: five approach-avoidance conflict tests, unpredictable shock anticipation, and the social intrusion test in children. Regarding the first goal, three tests appear suitable for anxiolytic drug screening in humans. However, they have not become part of the drug development pipeline and achieving this may require independent confirmation of predictive validity and cost-effectiveness. Secondly, two tests have shown potential to measure clinically relevant individual differences, but their psychometric properties, predictive value, and clinical applicability need to be clarified. Finally, cross-species research has not yet revealed new evidence that the physiology of healthy human behaviour in anxiety tests relates to the physiology of anxiety symptoms in patients. To summarise, cross-species anxiety tests could be rendered useful for drug screening and for development of diagnostic instruments. Using these tests for aetiology research in healthy humans or animals needs to be queried and may turn out to be unrealistic.

An Empirical Study to Explore the Adoption of E-Learning Social Media Platform in Taiwan: An Integrated Conceptual Adoption Framework Based on Technology Acceptance Model and Technology Threat Avoidance Theory

Currently, social media is ubiquitous and essential for social networking and content sharing. It is an effective platform for teaching and learning in higher education and provides a novel way to communicate between instructors and pupils. Thus, the purpose of this study was to present a research framework to examine students’ motivation to adopt an e-learning system with social medial platforms. This cross-sectional study used the questionnaire to collect data from the students in Taiwan. A framework has examined students’ motivation to adopt an e-learning system with social medial platforms based on the modified technology acceptance model (TAM) and technology threat avoidance theory (TTAT). The research framework was evaluated by structural equation modeling (SEM) and represented by Smart-PLS. A total of 262 valid responses were used for statistical analysis. The results recommended modified research model explains 77.0% of the variance of motivation to adopt (R2 = 0.77). The findings also supported perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived cost, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy significantly influenced students’ motivation to use. Results also indicated threat appraisal, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity are not significant factors for predicting students’ motivation to adopt e-learning in higher education.

Factors Affecting Awareness of Phishing Among Generation Y

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting awareness of phishing among Generation Y in Malaysia. Specifically, this study identified three factors that may influence awareness of phishing by applying the Theory of Technology Threat Avoidance. The factors are social engineering, anti-phishing knowledge, and security concern. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey. This study found that all the factors significantly influenced awareness of phishing among Generation Y in Malaysia. The findings of this study provide a further understanding of the factors that affect awareness of phishing. This study would benefit the public, especially Generation Y, the government, and all types of businesses, including financial institutions, by raising awareness of phishing and reducing phishing attacks. Keywords: phishing, Generation Y, social engineering, anti-phishing knowledge, security concern

Impact of preoperative surgical anxiety on postoperative surgical recovery among surgical patients: role of surgical coping

Objective: The present study examined the moderating impact of surgical coping in the relationship between pre-operative surgical anxiety and post-operative surgical recovery in surgical patients. Methods: The study was carried out in surgical departments of various hospitals situated in different areas of Province of the Punjab including Allied Hospital Faisalabad, DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha, Jinnah Hospital Lahore and Margalla Institute of Health Sciences Rawalpindi over the period of one-year May 1, 2018 to May 1, 2019. It was a descriptive research based on survey research design A purposive sample of pre-operative and post-operative surgical patients (N = 200) from Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale1, Surgical Recovery Scale2, and Coping with Surgical Stress Scale3 were used to collect information on study variables. Moderation analysis applied through PROCESS Marco 3.2. Results: Findings revealed that only two coping strategies including threat avoidance (p<.001) and information seeking (p<.001) moderated the relationship between surgical anxiety and surgical recovery of surgical patients. Conclusion: The study shed light on the importance of educating surgical patients regarding the use of appropriate coping strategies for their prompt recovery from surgery. The study has applied significance in the field of health psychology in general and for surgical patients in particular. Keywords: Surgical anxiety, surgical recovery, coping, threat avoidance, information seeking. Continuous...

Stopping a Response When You Really Care about the Action: Considerations from a Clinical Perspective

Response inhibition, whether reactive or proactive, is mostly investigated in a narrow cognitive framework. We argue that it be viewed within a broader frame than the action being inhibited, i.e., in the context of emotion and motivation of the individual at large. This is particularly important in the clinical domain, where the motivational strength of an action can be driven by threat avoidance or reward seeking. The cognitive response inhibition literature has focused on stopping reactively with responses in anticipation of clearly delineated external signals, or proactively in limited contexts, largely independent of clinical phenomena. Moreover, the focus has often been on stopping efficiency and its correlates rather than on inhibition failures. Currently, the cognitive and clinical perspectives are incommensurable. A broader context may explain the apparent paradox where individuals with disorders characterised by maladaptive action control have difficulty inhibiting their actions only in specific circumstances. Using Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as a case study, clinical theorising has focused largely on compulsions as failures of inhibition in relation to specific internal or external triggers. We propose that the concept of action tendencies may constitute a useful common denominator bridging research into motor, emotional, motivational, and contextual aspects of action control failure. The success of action control may depend on the interaction between the strength of action tendencies, the ability to withhold urges, and contextual factors.

Cyber-Identity Theft and Fintech Services

The fear of identity theft has been considered as an impediment to the rapid utilization of financial technology (FinTech) services. Based on the technology threat avoidance theory (TTAT), this study aims at investigating the willingness of users to use FinTech services notwithstanding the increasing rate of identity theft. This study examines the relationship between the constructs of fear of financial loss, fear of reputational damage, intention to use, and the actual use of FinTech services. Using multiple linear regression models and Pearson's correlation, the results indicate that the fear of financial loss and the fear of reputational damage have no statistical significant relationship with the intention to use and the use of FinTech services. However, the results show a significant relationship between intention to use and the actual use of FinTech services. Consequently, the study indicates that the fear of identity theft does not significantly deter users from using FinTech services.

Neural correlates and determinants of approach-avoidance conflict in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex

The recollection of environmental cues associated with threat or reward allows animals to select the most appropriate behavioral responses. Neurons in the prelimbic cortex (PL) respond to both threat- and reward-associated cues. However, it remains unknown whether PL regulates threat-avoidance vs. reward-approaching responses when an animal decision depends on previously associated memories. Using a conflict model in which rats retrieve memories of shock- and food-paired cues, we observed two distinct phenotypes during conflict: i) rats that continued to press a lever for food (Pressers); and ii) rats that exhibited a complete suppression in food seeking (Non-Pressers). Single-unit recordings revealed that increased risk-taking behavior in Pressers is associated with persistent food-cue responses in PL, and reduced spontaneous activity in PL glutamatergic (PLGLUT) neurons during conflict. Activating PLGLUT neurons in Pressers attenuated food-seeking responses in a neutral context, whereas inhibiting PLGLUT neurons in Non-Pressers reduced defensive responses and increased food approaching during conflict. Our results establish a causal role for PLGLUT neurons in mediating individual variability in memory-based risky decision making by regulating threat-avoidance vs. reward-approach behaviors.

Conflict Test Battery for Studying the Act of Facing Threats in Pursuit of Rewards

Survival depends on the ability of animals to avoid threats and approach rewards. Traditionally, these two opposing motivational systems have been studied separately. In nature, however, they regularly compete for the control of behavior. When threat- and reward-eliciting stimuli (learned or unlearned) occur simultaneously, a motivational conflict emerges that challenges individuals to weigh available options and execute a single behavioral response (avoid or approach). Most previous animal models using approach/avoidance conflicts have often focused on the ability to avoid threats by forgoing or delaying the opportunity to obtain rewards. In contrast, behavioral tasks designed to capitalize on the ability to actively choose to execute approach behaviors despite threats are scarce. Thus, we developed a behavioral test battery composed of three conflict tasks to directly study rats confronting threats to obtain rewards guided by innate and conditioned cues. One conflict task involves crossing a potentially electrified grid to obtain food on the opposite end of a straight alley, the second task is based on the step-down threat avoidance paradigm, and the third one is a modified version of the open field test. We used diazepam to pharmacologically validate conflict behaviors in our tasks. We found that, regardless of whether competing stimuli were conditioned or innate, a low diazepam dose decreased risk assessment and facilitated taking action to obtain rewards in the face of threats during conflict, without affecting choice behavior when there was no conflict involved. Using this pharmacologically validated test battery of ethologically designed innate/learned conflict tasks could help understand the fundamental brain mechanisms underlying the ability to confront threats to achieve goals.