Brain activation during human defensive behaviour: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis

Fiona Patrick; Matthew J Kempton; Lindsey Marwood; Steven C R Williams; Allan H Young; Adam M Perkins

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.028

Brain activation during human defensive behaviour: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Mar:98:71-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.028. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Authors

Fiona Patrick¹, Matthew J Kempton², Lindsey Marwood³, Steven C R Williams⁴, Allan H Young⁵, Adam M Perkins⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: fiona.patrick@kcl.ac.uk.
² Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
³ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁵ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

PMID: 30611801
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.028

Abstract

The neural underpinnings of defensive behaviour have implications for both basic research and clinical translation. This review systematically collates published research on neural response during simple avoidance of threat and approach-avoidance behaviour during goal-conflicting situations and presents an exploratory meta-analysis of available whole-brain data. Scopus, PsychInfo and Web of Science databases were searched for the period up to March 2018. 1348 simple avoidance and 1910 goal-conflict publications were initially identified; following review, 8 simple avoidance and 11 goal-conflict studies were included, with 5 datasets used in a preliminary meta-analysis. A move from forebrain-to-midbrain activation as threat becomes more pertinent was noted, indicating support for the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of behaviour and general compatibility with animal work. However, these findings were not reflected in the subsequent preliminary meta-analysis. This review highlights the considerable heterogeneity in currently available defensive behaviour paradigms and the lack of research in clinically relevant populations.

Keywords: Anxiety; Goal-conflict; Human behaviour; Individual differences; Neuroimaging; Threat response.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Behavior / physiology*
Brain / physiology*
Conflict, Psychological*
Humans
Models, Animal
Nerve Net / physiology
Reinforcement, Psychology*