ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理科学进展 ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1): 10-19.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2023.00010

• 研究构想 • 上一篇    下一篇

焦虑易感群体焦虑识别与消退中催产素的作用

马原啸1, 陈旭2()   

  1. 1南京师范大学心理学院, 南京 210023
    2西南大学心理学部, 重庆 400715
  • 收稿日期:2022-03-23 出版日期:2023-01-15 发布日期:2022-10-13
  • 通讯作者: 陈旭 E-mail:chenxu@swu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目(32100882)

The functional mechanism of oxytocin in anxiety detection and extinction among anxiety-susceptible groups

MA Yuanxiao1, CHEN Xu2()   

  1. 1School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
    2Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
  • Received:2022-03-23 Online:2023-01-15 Published:2022-10-13
  • Contact: CHEN Xu E-mail:chenxu@swu.edu.cn

摘要:

如何准确识别并缓解焦虑易感群体的焦虑情绪具有重要的社会意义和应用价值。目前焦虑识别与消退的研究缺乏客观和直接的手段, 而且在作用机制上也不清晰。本项目以催产素在高依恋焦虑个体焦虑识别与消退中的作用机制为主要研究内容, 创造性地将焦虑识别与消退整合在催产素的研究框架内, 从生理测量和药物干预的视角为焦虑识别和消退提供新的研究思路。研究成果对于理解焦虑反应中的神经荷尔蒙机制具有重要科学意义, 也为高依恋焦虑群体的焦虑评估和干预提供了新的路径参考, 对维护和提升个体的心理健康具有重要价值。

关键词: 情绪, 催产素, 焦虑识别, 焦虑消退, 依恋焦虑

Abstract:

Anxiety detection and extinction of anxiety-susceptible groups have long been a hot topic of anxiety research. However, the current studies on anxiety detection and extinction lack objective and direct techniques, and are also unclear in terms of the it's functional mechanism. To generate new insight, using a multi-methods approach involving questionnaire, behavior, hormone, and fMRI, the present project aims to explore the mechanism of oxytocin in the detection and extinction of anxiety in individuals with high attachment anxiety. To this end, anxiety detection and extinction are creatively integrated into the framework of oxytocin research with the hope of conducting this project from three aspects. This project aims to provide a new approach to anxiety detection and extinction from the perspective of physiological measurement and pharmacological intervention. Specifically, the details of the research program are as below:

Firstly, is there a direct relationship between endogenous oxytocin and anxiety response? To answer this question, Study 1 intends to investigate whether endogenous oxytocin can accurately identify anxiety responses induced by dynamic angry faces, and to clarify the validity of endogenous oxytocin in anxiety detection. We predicted that dynamic angry facial expressions will evoke lower endogenous oxytocin levels than those in static angry and neutral facial expressions during the task period.

Secondly, how does oxytocin act on anxiety detection and extinction in individuals with high attachment anxiety? And what is the corresponding brain mechanism? For this purpose, Study 2 design two experiments to explore the neural mechanism of oxytocin in anxiety detection and extinction in individuals with high attachment anxiety from both endogenous and exogenous sources. Experiment 1 mainly focuses on the role of endogenous oxytocin on anxiety detection in individuals with high attachment anxiety, hypothesizing that individuals with high attachment anxiety would exhibit greater amygdala activity and lower endogenous oxytocin levels during the viewing of dynamic angry facial expressions. Experiment 2 mainly focused on the anxiolytic effect of exogenous oxytocin, hypothesizing that intranasal oxytocin will significantly attenuate the amygdala activity during the viewing of dynamic angry facial expressions.

Thirdly, whether the effect of oxytocin on anxiety detection in individuals with high attachment anxiety from an intervention perspective could be verified? To further validate the relationship between oxytocin and anxiety response, Study 3 aims to conduct an attachment security intervention for individuals with high attachment anxiety by adopting attachment security priming. During this intervention, the change of endogenous oxytocin and amygdala activation in anxiety response of individuals with high attachment anxiety under intervention training is investigated. Attachment security priming was predicted to significantly attenuate amygdala activity and increase endogenous oxytocin levels during the viewing of dynamic angry facial expressions in individuals with high attachment anxiety.

The above three studies were designed to construct a closed-loop of endogenous—exogenous—endogenous to systematically investigate the mechanism of oxytocin in anxiety detection and extinction in individuals with high attachment anxiety. The findings of the project attempt to provide a possible explanation for the mechanism of anxiolytic effects of oxytocin, which is of great scientific implications for understanding the neurohormonal mechanism in the anxiety response. Moreover, the project provides a new approach to anxiety assessment and intervention for high attachment anxiety groups, which is of great value in maintaining and improving the mental health of individuals.

Key words: emotion, oxytocin, anxiety detection, anxiety extinction, attachment anxiety

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