Defensive freezing and its relation to approach-avoidance decision-making under threat

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 8;11(1):12030. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90968-z.

Abstract

Successful responding to acutely threatening situations requires adequate approach-avoidance decisions. However, it is unclear how threat-induced states-like freezing-related bradycardia-impact the weighing of the potential outcomes of such value-based decisions. Insight into the underlying computations is essential, not only to improve our models of decision-making but also to improve interventions for maladaptive decisions, for instance in anxiety patients and first-responders who frequently have to make decisions under acute threat. Forty-two participants made passive and active approach-avoidance decisions under threat-of-shock when confronted with mixed outcome-prospects (i.e., varying money and shock amounts). Choice behavior was best predicted by a model including individual action-tendencies and bradycardia, beyond the subjective value of the outcome. Moreover, threat-related bradycardia (high-vs-low threat) interacted with subjective value, depending on the action-context (passive-vs-active). Specifically, in action-contexts incongruent with participants' intrinsic action-tendencies, stronger bradycardia related to diminished effects of subjective value on choice across participants. These findings illustrate the relevance of testing approach-avoidance decisions in relatively ecologically valid conditions of acute and primarily reinforced threat. These mechanistic insights into approach-avoidance conflict-resolution may inspire biofeedback-related techniques to optimize decision-making under threat. Critically, the findings demonstrate the relevance of incorporating internal psychophysiological states and external action-contexts into models of approach-avoidance decision-making.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety
  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Avoidance Learning / physiology*
  • Biofeedback, Psychology
  • Bradycardia
  • Choice Behavior
  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Freezing*
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Male
  • Negotiating
  • Psychophysiology
  • Reinforcement, Psychology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Young Adult