Presentation Title

Gamma-Band EEG and Pupil Dilation to Negative Words as Biomarkers of Preservative Negative Thinking in Anxiety and Depression: An RDoC Study

Presenter's Name(s)

Jennifer PowersFollow

Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common mood-anxiety-comorbidity based on DSM diagnosis. This could suggest a potential shared mechanism, i.e. perseverative negative thought processes: brooding rumination in MDD and worry in GAD. This study proposes an RDoC study designed to examine the relationship between biomarkers of pervasive negative thinking and (1) depression, (2) anxiety, and (3) functional disability. The biomarkers will be measured in response to emotional words via the valence identification task in which sustained pupil dilation acts as an index of prefrontal control in emotion regulation and gamma-band EEG indexes semantic elaboration of emotional information (Siegle et al., 2001; 2010). Participants will consist of 200 adults recruited from the community that encompass the full spectrum of assumed mechanisms i.e. negative thinking, and outcomes. The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores will be used to recruit 125 participants with effort to ensure approximately equal representation in the normal, mild, and moderate range of each measure. The remaining 75 participants will include DSM-5 diagnosed cases of MDD, GAD, and comorbid MDD/GAD. Participants will undergo a single laboratory testing session in which the valence identification task will be administered in accordance with Siegle et al.’s (2001) procedures. This will include the use of negative, positive, and neutral emotional words, during which pupillometry and EEG data will be collected. This data will be analyzed using multiple regression analyses, in which gamma-band EEG and sustained pupil dilation in response to negative vs. neutral words will be examined as predictors of (1) depression severity on BDI-II, (2) anxiety severity on the BAI, and (3) mental health related impairment in work, social/leisure activities, and home/family responsibilities, as measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). This study could change the way mental disorders are classified.

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Kelly Rohan

Faculty/Staff Collaborators

Kelly Rohan

Status

Undergraduate

Student College

College of Arts and Sciences

Program/Major

Neuroscience

Primary Research Category

Biological Sciences

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Gamma-Band EEG and Pupil Dilation to Negative Words as Biomarkers of Preservative Negative Thinking in Anxiety and Depression: An RDoC Study

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common mood-anxiety-comorbidity based on DSM diagnosis. This could suggest a potential shared mechanism, i.e. perseverative negative thought processes: brooding rumination in MDD and worry in GAD. This study proposes an RDoC study designed to examine the relationship between biomarkers of pervasive negative thinking and (1) depression, (2) anxiety, and (3) functional disability. The biomarkers will be measured in response to emotional words via the valence identification task in which sustained pupil dilation acts as an index of prefrontal control in emotion regulation and gamma-band EEG indexes semantic elaboration of emotional information (Siegle et al., 2001; 2010). Participants will consist of 200 adults recruited from the community that encompass the full spectrum of assumed mechanisms i.e. negative thinking, and outcomes. The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores will be used to recruit 125 participants with effort to ensure approximately equal representation in the normal, mild, and moderate range of each measure. The remaining 75 participants will include DSM-5 diagnosed cases of MDD, GAD, and comorbid MDD/GAD. Participants will undergo a single laboratory testing session in which the valence identification task will be administered in accordance with Siegle et al.’s (2001) procedures. This will include the use of negative, positive, and neutral emotional words, during which pupillometry and EEG data will be collected. This data will be analyzed using multiple regression analyses, in which gamma-band EEG and sustained pupil dilation in response to negative vs. neutral words will be examined as predictors of (1) depression severity on BDI-II, (2) anxiety severity on the BAI, and (3) mental health related impairment in work, social/leisure activities, and home/family responsibilities, as measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). This study could change the way mental disorders are classified.