Reward Value Level
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to understand how stress, anxiety, and negative affect change learning and decision-making processes. The primary objective is to assess two forms of decision-making-reward adaptation and emotion prediction errors-differ as a function of stress and anxiety. The secondary objectives are to assess how individual differences measured in our studies relate to these decision variables.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSocially Evaluated Cold Pressor Task (SECPT)
The SECPT is a validated laboratory stressor that combines physiological stress with social evaluative components; it is widely used to elicit acute stress responses in controlled settings. Participants are asked to submerge their nondominant hand into an ice-cold water (0-4°C) for 3 minutes, while videotaped and observed by one neutral-faced experimenter.
BEHAVIORALNon-Stressful Control Task
Participants assigned to the warm water control condition will perform a non-evaluative task with warm water.
Sponsors
NYU Langone Health
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aims 1-3: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: * 18-65 years of age * Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English * Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent. Aim 4: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: * 18-65 years of age * Diagnosis of GAD * Able to speak, read, and write fluently in English * Be willing and able to follow study procedures and provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Aims 1-3: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met: * History of or medication for neurologic or psychiatric disease * High-blood pressure or heart condition * Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder * Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers * Pregnancy Aim 4: Individuals will be excluded from participation if any of the following criteria are met: * High-blood pressure or heart condition * Diabetes, food allergies, metabolic disorders or history of eating disorder * Use of corticosteroids or beta-blockers * Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or any psychotic disorder; substance use disorder in past 3 months; eating disorder in past 6 months; current major depressive disorder (past is allowed) * Active suicidal ideation with plan and intent (indicated by score \>=4 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale) * Not on stable dose of psychiatric medication for at least 4 weeks prior to study participation * Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion Predictions - Pleasantness | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Difference in pleasantness ratings before and after trial outcomes. (Aims 3 and 4) |
| Valence Rating Score of OASIS Images | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Valence is rated on a scale from 0 (very negative) to 6 (very positive). (Aims 2 and 4) |
| Intensity Rating Score of OASIS Images | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Intensity is rated on a scale from 0 (very low) to 6 (very high). (Aims 2 and 4) |
| Emotion Predictions - Valence | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Difference in valence ratings before and after trial outcomes. (Aims 3 and 4) |
| Pleasantness Rating Score of OASIS Images | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Pleasantness is rated on a scale from 0 (very unpleasant) to 6 (very pleasant). (Aims 2 and 4) |
| Subjective Value Assigned to Food Stimuli | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Measured as participants' willingness-to-pay ($) for snack foods across the behavioral task. (Aims 1 and 4). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Holmes-RaHe Life Stress Inventory Score | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | Measurement of lifetime stress; comprises 43 items, each item represents a stressful event that may have occurred over the course of the participant's lifetime. The total score is the total number of stressful events that have occured; the total score ranges from 0-43; higher scores indicate greater lifetime stress. (Aims 3 and 4) |
| Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2) Score | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | The MAIA-2 is a 37-item assessment of interoceptive awareness. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 5 (always); the total score is the average of responses and ranges from 0 to 5; higher scores indicate greater equates to more awareness of bodily sensation. |
| Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Score | Study Visit (Day 1 - Approx. 2 Hours) | The PSS is a 10-item assessment of stressful feelings and thoughts over the past month; each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (fairly often). The total score is the sum of responses and ranges from 0-20. Higher scores indicate greater levels of perceived stress. (Aims 3 and 4) |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactCandace Raio, PhD
Backup ContactAriana Wahab
Outcome results
None listed