Prefrontal activation patterns of automatic and regulated approach–avoidance reactions – A functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study

Ernst, Lena H.; Plichta, Michael M.; Lutz, Elisabeth; Zesewitz, Anna K.; Tupak, Sara V.; Dresler, Thomas; Ehlis, Ann-Christine; Fallgatter, Andreas J.

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2011.09.013

Article in Press

Prefrontal activation patterns of automatic and regulated approach–avoidance reactions – A functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study

Lena H. Ernst
- Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Corresponding author. Present address: Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
- The data acquisition for this study was performed when LHE, ACE and AJF were still at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg. The present address is the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen.
Michael M. Plichta
- RG Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
Elisabeth Lutz
- Psychophysiology and Functional Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Anna K. Zesewitz
- Psychophysiology and Functional Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Sara V. Tupak
- Psychophysiology and Functional Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Thomas Dresler
- Psychophysiology and Functional Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Ann-Christine Ehlis
- Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- The data acquisition for this study was performed when LHE, ACE and AJF were still at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg. The present address is the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen.
Andreas J. Fallgatter
- Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- The data acquisition for this study was performed when LHE, ACE and AJF were still at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg. The present address is the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen.

Received 26 April 2011; received in revised form 23 July 2011; accepted 21 September 2011. published online 31 October 2011.
Corrected Proof

Reviewed 17 June 2011. Action editor Angela Sirigu

Abstract

Introduction

The present pilot study investigated cortical processes during automatic and regulated approach–avoidance reactions for the first time.

Methods 1

In 15 healthy volunteers, prefrontal activity was measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during performance of a joystick version of the Approach–Avoidance Task (AAT). In experiment 1, participants approached (pulled towards their body) and avoided (pushed away from their body) positive and negative pictures.

Results 1

Incompatible, regulated reactions (avoid positive, approach negative) compared to compatible, automatic reactions (approach positive, avoid negative) caused stronger activation in terms of a decrease of deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (i.e., in one of the main instances for behavioural control in humans).

Methods 2

In the context of pathologically enhanced approach tendencies in addiction disorders and of planned future studies, we presented alcohol and non-alcohol pictures in experiment 2.

Results 2

Here, left anterior lateral orbitofrontal cortex as part of the general reward system processing secondary rewards showed stronger activation in terms of increased oxygenated haemoglobin (O₂Hb) during approaching compared to avoiding alcohol pictures. This difference was positively correlated with participants’ expectation about beneficial effects of alcohol in terms of emotional regulation.

Discussion

Despite some limitations due to the pilot character of the study, our results suggest that further combinations of the AAT and functional imaging methods will reveal detailed insight into neuronal mechanisms constituting approach–avoidance as basic behavioural principles and into specifically altered sub-processes in alcohol dependence.

Keywords: Approach, Avoidance, Reflective system, Prefrontal cortex (PFC), Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)