Modelling and modulating mechanisms of escape and avoidance in the anxiety disorder spectrum: A precision medicine rTMS approach

Abstract Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a longstanding FDA-approved treatment for chronic depression, but its efficacy with anxiety and related disorders not well-established. A growing literature suggests that improving of rTMS anxiety/ could depend on increasing the degree to which targeted paired behavioral challenges so specific disorder-relevant behaviors can be modified. In this vein, current poster presents large-scale project in targeting theoretically critical neural nodes careful laboratory-based assay central etiology maintenance pathological – namely, escape avoidance behaviors. To comprehensively model these our target sample 80 seekers, deploys multiple laboratory tasks have been shown capture different dimensions such that: 1) one task measures fear (startle reflex) reactivity during preparation execute simple or responses, finds anxious exaggerations context; 2) another allows participants increase monetary reward chance avoid punishment by moving, respectively, closer further from dynamic virtual predator, individuals show bias toward specifically slow-moving predators. test modulation potentially distinct mediators each effect, complete before after hub across separate sessions being ventromedial prefrontal cortex (which regulates fear-mediating amygdala) pre-supplementary motor area communicates dorsal basal ganglia, mediator proactive avoidance). addition presenting comprehensive methodology, then, will present initial results session consider implications positive precision concerns. Research Category Technology Methods Translational Research: 10. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Keywords: Anxiety, Escape/ Avoidance Behaviors, rTMS, Experimental Psychophysiology