

摘" 要" 在日常生活中, 如何有效應(yīng)對趨避沖突至關(guān)重要, 而焦慮個體存在趨避沖突失調(diào)的行為表現(xiàn)。這種失調(diào)表現(xiàn)為以放棄積極結(jié)果為代價, 以此回避與實(shí)際威脅無關(guān)或威脅程度較低的刺激。以往的動機(jī)理論將個體應(yīng)對趨避沖突分為信息輸入和行為輸出過程, 難以全面解釋趨避沖突失調(diào)的具體機(jī)制。因此, 本文嘗試提出一個全新的“沖突感知、沖突處理和反饋學(xué)習(xí)”三階段模型, 強(qiáng)調(diào)焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)可能表現(xiàn)為威脅感知的增強(qiáng)、預(yù)期價值與動機(jī)比較的失衡、反饋學(xué)習(xí)的異常。未來研究可以進(jìn)一步驗(yàn)證該模型中三階段的相對獨(dú)立性, 通過分層和模塊化的方法對模型進(jìn)行參數(shù)化, 從發(fā)展的角度來探討焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)背后的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)機(jī)制。
關(guān)鍵詞" 焦慮, 趨避沖突, 預(yù)期價值, 動機(jī), 認(rèn)知神經(jīng)機(jī)制
分類號" B845; R395
趨近和回避之間微妙平衡的紊亂是包括焦慮在內(nèi)的許多精神障礙的重要表現(xiàn), 即趨避沖突中異常的行為決策(Aupperle amp; Paulus, 2010; Letkiewicz et al., 2023; Vogel amp; Schwabe, 2019)。趨避沖突的概念最早由Lewin (1935)提出, 指當(dāng)一個目標(biāo)同時導(dǎo)致積極和消極的結(jié)果時, 個體既想要追求積極結(jié)果又想避免消極結(jié)果, 從而產(chǎn)生進(jìn)退兩難的心理沖突。比如, 社交焦慮患者可能希望多交一些朋友, 但是又想回避社交場合所帶來的不適感。在此情境中, 個體通過整合獎勵與威脅的相關(guān)信息以及結(jié)果發(fā)生的可能性, 從而做出趨近或回避的行為反應(yīng)(Kirlic et al., 2017; Quartz, 2009)。回避模型是焦慮障礙的經(jīng)典模型, 但是真實(shí)社會環(huán)境比較復(fù)雜, 不僅包含對威脅刺激的回避, 也包含對積極刺激的趨近。所以, 趨避沖突的實(shí)驗(yàn)?zāi)P椭饾u取代傳統(tǒng)的回避范式, 成為評估和預(yù)測焦慮的綜合模型(Bach, 2022; Ball amp; Gunaydin, 2022; Korn et al., 2017)。在沒有特別說明的情況下, 本文中的焦慮個體泛指臨床、亞臨床以及焦慮傾向的個體。
一直以來, 對于趨避沖突的理解主要從動機(jī)維度出發(fā)(Elliot, 2006; Gray, 1987; Monni et al., 2020):個體在趨近回避沖突中主要依賴趨利避害的內(nèi)驅(qū)力進(jìn)行決策, 并且將個體在整個趨避沖突中的反應(yīng)簡化為信息輸入和行為輸出兩個階段。然而, 焦慮個體在獎賞刺激很強(qiáng)且威脅刺激很弱的情況下, 依舊選擇回避行為(Arnaudova et al., 2017; Pittig et al., 2021), 并且只需要更少的信息就能快速地做出反應(yīng)(Dillon et al., 2022; Han et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2022)。這表明他們的行為可能并不僅是為了避免痛苦或?qū)で罂鞓罚?還可能源于對潛在威脅的過度反應(yīng)或習(xí)慣性回避(Ball amp; Gunaydin, 2022; Watson et al., 2022)。當(dāng)然, 焦慮個體趨近回避沖突失調(diào)也可能是由于預(yù)期價值計算的受損。因?yàn)閺倪M(jìn)化角度來說, 個體的決策往往基于價值的最大化, 那么這種放棄更高價值的非理性決策行為可能是個體對不同行為對應(yīng)結(jié)果的概率和成本的復(fù)雜計算出現(xiàn)了問題(Rangel et al., 2008; Walters amp; Redish, 2018)。然而現(xiàn)有理論框架未充分考慮預(yù)期價值與動機(jī)的相互作用, 難以全面解釋焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)的具體機(jī)制。因?yàn)檫^度回避可能代表的是回避相關(guān)的動機(jī)程度, 也可能反映的是預(yù)期價值計算的受損。同時, 趨避沖突的解決涉及多個腦區(qū)的協(xié)同作用, 傳統(tǒng)的理論框架將趨近和回避動機(jī)作為基本獨(dú)立的神經(jīng)機(jī)制, 局限于獨(dú)立腦區(qū)激活的結(jié)果, 而焦慮通常與多個腦區(qū)的過度激活或功能損傷相關(guān), 這些區(qū)域并非獨(dú)立工作, 而是通過廣泛的網(wǎng)絡(luò)連接來共同調(diào)節(jié)行為決策。基于現(xiàn)有理論在認(rèn)知和神經(jīng)機(jī)制中的不足, 本文提出個體應(yīng)對趨近回避沖突的三階段模型, 我們的核心科學(xué)問題是:“焦慮個體在沖突感知、沖突處理和反饋學(xué)習(xí)三個階段中的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)變化, 如何共同作用導(dǎo)致趨避沖突中的異常行為?” 對此, 本文首先總結(jié)了基于強(qiáng)化敏感性、巴甫洛夫條件化以及強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)等與趨避沖突和焦慮相關(guān)的理論及其局限性, 在以往理論基礎(chǔ)上提出“沖突感知、沖突處理和反饋學(xué)習(xí)”的趨避沖突三階段模型; 其次, 總結(jié)該模型所依賴的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)基礎(chǔ); 最后, 探討焦慮在威脅感知增強(qiáng)、預(yù)期價值和動機(jī)比較失衡以及反饋學(xué)習(xí)上的異常表現(xiàn), 解釋焦慮對不同階段的影響, 為理解焦慮個體的趨避沖突失調(diào)提供新的視角, 并對未來的研究方向提供建議。
1" 趨避沖突系統(tǒng)的理論基礎(chǔ)
1.1" 強(qiáng)化敏感性理論
Gray (1987)首次提出強(qiáng)化敏感性理論(Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, RST)解釋焦慮個體的異常回避和趨近行為。該理論包含三種動機(jī)系統(tǒng):行為激活系統(tǒng)(Behavioral Activation System, BAS)與獎勵、積極情感及主動性相關(guān), 促進(jìn)個體繼續(xù)當(dāng)前的行為; 行為抑制系統(tǒng)(Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS)與懲罰、負(fù)面情感和被動性相關(guān), 抑制當(dāng)前行為; 風(fēng)險因素系統(tǒng)(Fight-Flight-Freeze system, FFFS)對危險產(chǎn)生自動應(yīng)激反應(yīng), 包括戰(zhàn)斗、逃跑或僵化。在面對趨避沖突時, BIS作為沖突檢測和處理系統(tǒng), 抑制正在進(jìn)行的行為并喚醒注意資源(Gray amp; McNaughton, 2000), 焦慮狀態(tài)被認(rèn)為是BIS過度激活所引起(Corr amp; Cooper, 2016)。在此基礎(chǔ)上, 研究者提出了引導(dǎo)動機(jī)行為的兩階段模型(Corr amp; Cooper, 2016; Corr amp; McNaughton, 2012):在評估輸入階段, 個體識別到強(qiáng)化物(刺激)同時具有吸引和排斥的屬性, 引起矛盾心理; 在動機(jī)輸出階段, 相應(yīng)的行為系統(tǒng)(如BAS、FFFS或BIS)被激活, 產(chǎn)生趨近和回避的動機(jī)并做出最終決策。該模型解釋了沖突發(fā)生時的輸入和輸出階段, 并強(qiáng)調(diào)了動機(jī)在理解和處理趨避沖突中的核心作用。然而強(qiáng)化敏感性理論的初衷在于解釋特定刺激下的行為選擇, 但對于焦慮個體, 相同的回避行為可能在多種不同刺激下重復(fù)發(fā)生, 顯示出普遍的回避偏向性。
對此, Corr和McNaughton (2012)擴(kuò)展了強(qiáng)化敏感性理論的特質(zhì)維度用以解釋焦慮的穩(wěn)定性, 并使用不同的敏感性來進(jìn)行標(biāo)記。其中, BAS的敏感性被定義為獎賞敏感性(Corr, 2004), BIS的敏感性被定義為威脅敏感性(李小新 等, 2014)。焦慮個體容易受威脅敏感性的驅(qū)動從而引起過度的回避行為(Corr amp; Krupi?, 2017), 而獎賞敏感性可能隨著焦慮的發(fā)展逐漸降低, 從而減少趨近行為(Richey et al., 2019; Sequeira et al., 2022)。在強(qiáng)化敏感性理論的框架下, 焦慮個體趨避沖突的失調(diào)可以被解釋為威脅敏感性和獎勵敏感性的失衡(Bishop amp; Gagne, 2018)。雖然強(qiáng)化敏感性理論通過不同程度的敏感性差異影響回避或趨近動機(jī)來解釋焦慮個體趨避失調(diào)的原因, 但是該理論過度簡化了個體在面對復(fù)雜決策時的內(nèi)部認(rèn)知過程, 也忽略了動機(jī)和認(rèn)知之間的相互作用。有效地認(rèn)知處理能夠幫助個體平衡趨近和回避動機(jī), 但是這種認(rèn)知處理本身可能在焦慮個體中出現(xiàn)異常, 因此對于趨避沖突的解釋還需要從認(rèn)知過程的維度進(jìn)行擴(kuò)展。
1.2" 巴甫洛夫條件反射和回避學(xué)習(xí)理論
巴甫洛夫恐懼條件反射是研究焦慮的經(jīng)典模型。行為主義認(rèn)為回避是通過反復(fù)的刺激?反應(yīng)聯(lián)結(jié)所產(chǎn)生, 因此回避行為是對焦慮和恐懼的直接反應(yīng)(Miller, 1948; Mowrer, 1940; Watson amp; Rayner, 1920)。根據(jù)這一觀點(diǎn), 回避行為將直接減少面對的恐懼, 從而被不斷強(qiáng)化。然而, 許多回避行為并未伴隨顯著的恐懼減弱, 這表明減少恐懼可能不是唯一的驅(qū)動力(Bolles, 1970; Rachman amp; Hodgson, 1974)。于是研究者逐漸將目光轉(zhuǎn)移到認(rèn)知層面, 關(guān)注威脅預(yù)期在回避行為的習(xí)得和維持中的作用(即雖然恐懼減弱, 但對威脅的預(yù)期并沒有減弱), 將回避從被動的行為反應(yīng)轉(zhuǎn)向具有認(rèn)知驅(qū)動的主動行為(Seligman amp; Johnston, 1973)。Lovibond (2006)提出了預(yù)期模型, 認(rèn)為回避不僅是條件反射的結(jié)果, 還涉及個體對結(jié)果的預(yù)測和認(rèn)知評估, 該模型強(qiáng)調(diào)威脅預(yù)期是回避行為的核心驅(qū)動力。另一種對持續(xù)性回避行為的解釋是習(xí)慣化, 即回避行為的高度自動化(Hofmann amp; Hay, 2018; Krypotos et al., 2015)。因此, 目前普遍認(rèn)為回避行為由兩個相互獨(dú)立的學(xué)習(xí)過程共同支配(de Wit amp; Dickinson, 2009; LeDoux et al., 2017; Watson et al., 2022)。首先是威脅預(yù)期過程:這是一種目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí), 即個體關(guān)注威脅線索和結(jié)果之間的聯(lián)系, 其回避反應(yīng)是出于對威脅結(jié)果出現(xiàn)可能性的估計(de Wit amp; Dickinson, 2009)。焦慮個體在面對威脅線索時可能會高估威脅結(jié)果出現(xiàn)的可能性, 從而產(chǎn)生較高的恐懼水平和過度的回避反應(yīng); 其次是習(xí)慣化過程:通過大量重復(fù)的行為練習(xí), 個體的回避反應(yīng)逐漸自動化, 對威脅線索的回避反應(yīng)成為習(xí)慣, 最終使得回避行為脫離了對結(jié)果的依賴(Wood amp; Neal, 2007)。雖然經(jīng)典條件反射和回避學(xué)習(xí)理論在一定程度上補(bǔ)充了強(qiáng)化敏感性理論所缺乏的認(rèn)知加工過程, 并解釋了在得到結(jié)果反饋后, 存在兩種不同的學(xué)習(xí)系統(tǒng)應(yīng)對相同或類似的情況, 但是該理論只探討了威脅情況下個體如何從刺激?行為?結(jié)果的聯(lián)結(jié)中進(jìn)行學(xué)習(xí), 并不能全面地解釋焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)的機(jī)制。
1.3" 強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)理論
強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)理論(Reinforcement Learning Theory)為獎勵驅(qū)動(或威脅驅(qū)動)行為的建模提供了一個框架, 個體在此框架下通過權(quán)衡決策結(jié)果的預(yù)期值, 旨在最大化獎勵并最小化損失。強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)的概念源自操作性條件反射, 行為主義者認(rèn)為通過強(qiáng)化物可以有效塑造行為, 而無需推測個體的內(nèi)部心理過程(Skinner, 1938)。然而, Tolman (1948)發(fā)現(xiàn)動物可以通過對環(huán)境形成認(rèn)知地圖, 在沒有強(qiáng)化物的情況下也能進(jìn)行學(xué)習(xí)并調(diào)整行為。這一發(fā)現(xiàn)促使研究者從單純依賴強(qiáng)化物的行為主義轉(zhuǎn)向了包含預(yù)測、計劃和決策的認(rèn)知心理學(xué)框架(Silvetti amp; Verguts, 2012)。Rescorla和Wagner (1972)模型提出預(yù)期結(jié)果和實(shí)際結(jié)果之間的差異(預(yù)測誤差)是驅(qū)動學(xué)習(xí)的關(guān)鍵。隨后, Sutton (1988)將預(yù)測誤差引入時序差分學(xué)習(xí)(Temporal- Difference Learning), 即個體在每一步都更新對未來狀態(tài)和結(jié)果的預(yù)期值, 進(jìn)而描述個體如何通過不斷更新對環(huán)境的預(yù)期來進(jìn)行適應(yīng)性的行為調(diào)整。發(fā)展至今, 強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)通過計算預(yù)期價值來指導(dǎo)行為決策, 其中獎勵值代表趨近行為的預(yù)期收益, 而懲罰值則表示某行為可能導(dǎo)致的負(fù)面后果。預(yù)測誤差被認(rèn)為是調(diào)整和優(yōu)化行為決策的核心因素:如果行為的結(jié)果高于預(yù)期, 個體會增強(qiáng)對該行為的傾向; 如果實(shí)際結(jié)果不如預(yù)期, 個體將減少相同行為的發(fā)生(Enkhtaivan et al., 2023; Letkiewicz et al., 2023; Sharp et al., 2022; Sutton amp; Barto, 2018)。利用計算建模, 該理論揭示了個體如何動態(tài)適應(yīng)環(huán)境和調(diào)整預(yù)期的內(nèi)部認(rèn)知過程。
在此基礎(chǔ)上, 焦慮個體異常的行為決策被認(rèn)為是對學(xué)習(xí)、感知和決策方面計算的異常變化所導(dǎo)致(Bach amp; Dayan, 2017; LeDoux amp; Pine, 2016; Yamamori amp; Robinson, 2023)。Pike和Robinson (2022)對強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)參數(shù)的元分析發(fā)現(xiàn)相比于對照組, 焦慮障礙組的懲罰學(xué)習(xí)率升高以及獎勵學(xué)習(xí)率降低, 并將這種情況解釋為焦慮障礙對負(fù)面信號的高敏感性。該理論框架通過量化獎勵和威脅的期望值, 可以更深入地理解個體進(jìn)行權(quán)衡和決策的認(rèn)知過程。然而, 強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)理論容易將預(yù)期和內(nèi)部動機(jī)混淆。因?yàn)轭A(yù)測錯誤的定義是結(jié)果與預(yù)期之間差異的符號(正或負(fù)), 這種定義將預(yù)測錯誤的大小和結(jié)果的動機(jī)性質(zhì)混合, 例如, 超出預(yù)期的獎勵(正的預(yù)測錯誤)通常被視為有吸引力, 而超出預(yù)期的威脅(也是正的預(yù)測錯誤)則被視為有厭惡性。相反, 比預(yù)期少獲得的獎勵被視為厭惡性, 而比預(yù)期少遇到的威脅則被視為有吸引力(Kalisch et al., 2019; Moughrabi et al., 2022)。傳統(tǒng)的強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)模型通常不擅長處理多維度結(jié)果, 這些后果難以簡單地分類為正面或負(fù)面, 因此限制了其在解釋復(fù)雜情境下個體如何權(quán)衡趨避沖突的適用性。
1.4" 趨避沖突的三階段模型
綜上所述, 我們認(rèn)為前人的動機(jī)理論將趨避沖突的處理簡單劃分為一個靜態(tài)的評價輸入和動機(jī)輸出的兩階段模型, 難以解釋內(nèi)部的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)機(jī)制和個體根據(jù)結(jié)果進(jìn)行適應(yīng)性的調(diào)整過程。而描述了認(rèn)知過程和反饋學(xué)習(xí)的理論又往往局限于獎賞或威脅的單一維度, 沒有納入趨避沖突的情況。因此, 我們對上述理論基礎(chǔ)進(jìn)行了整合和擴(kuò)展, 強(qiáng)調(diào)沖突處理過程中價值和動機(jī)以及兩者的交互作用, 并且在得到反饋后獲得強(qiáng)化或者更新, 從而形成一個動態(tài)的認(rèn)知回路(如圖1)。具體而言, 當(dāng)沖突刺激輸入時, 引起個體對刺激的注意和解釋, 這受到威脅和獎賞敏感性的影響。隨后是沖突處理階段, 個體會對回避和趨近行為分別產(chǎn)生預(yù)期價值和動機(jī), 并將兩者進(jìn)行比較后做出決策。最后是反饋學(xué)習(xí)階段, 如果結(jié)果反饋與預(yù)期不相符, 個體以目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí)來調(diào)整對信息的判斷; 如果結(jié)果反饋與預(yù)期相符, 個體強(qiáng)化現(xiàn)有模式, 對相同或類似的信息形成習(xí)慣化從而維持一貫的行為。下文將對該三階段模型進(jìn)行詳細(xì)介紹, 闡明該模型的合理性與獨(dú)特性。
2" 趨避沖突三階段模型的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)基礎(chǔ)
2.1" 趨避沖突的認(rèn)知機(jī)制
2.1.1" 沖突感知
當(dāng)個體面臨趨避沖突刺激時, 會激活強(qiáng)化敏感性系統(tǒng)進(jìn)行初步的感知和分類(Corr amp; Cooper, 2016; Corr amp; McNaughton, 2012; Monni et al., 2020)。沖突感知階段涉及的是對沖突刺激的快速評估和響應(yīng), 即強(qiáng)化敏感性系統(tǒng)的獎賞敏感性和威脅敏感性, 它們各自影響個體對刺激的注意力分配和理解。例如, 高威脅敏感性的個體可能對威脅刺激產(chǎn)生較強(qiáng)的生理喚醒和持續(xù)的注意, 這通常表現(xiàn)為對威脅線索過度敏感, 從而在遇到潛在威脅時迅速產(chǎn)生回避行為(De Pascalis et al., 2019); 相對而言, 高獎賞敏感性的個體則可能對獎勵刺激的識別和反應(yīng)更加敏感, 使得他們在預(yù)測到潛在的積極結(jié)果時更傾向于趨近行為(Amodio amp; Harmon-Jones, 2011; Kaye et al., 2018)。敏感性差異還影響了個體對外部事件的理解, Hundt等(2013)要求被試連續(xù)一周每天8次匯報自己日常生活中的行為、感受和思考, 發(fā)現(xiàn)高威脅敏感性的個體在日常生活中經(jīng)歷的負(fù)面情緒較多, 而在積極情境中感受到的正面情緒增加較少, 反映出消極的解釋偏向。他們也更傾向于將環(huán)境線索視為潛在威脅, 從而激發(fā)更多的消極情緒, 而高獎賞敏感性個體則表現(xiàn)出相反的傾向(Warr et al., 2021)。雖然健康個體通常能夠較好地平衡這兩種敏感性, 但敏感性的失衡可能構(gòu)成精神障礙的基礎(chǔ)(Bishop amp; Gagne, 2018; Katz et al., 2020)。基于威脅敏感性和獎賞敏感性的差異, 個體在感知趨避沖突階段可能已經(jīng)產(chǎn)生對回避或趨近行為的偏好, 并進(jìn)一步影響下一個階段。
2.1.2" 沖突處理
個體對信息進(jìn)行整合后, 開始處理趨避沖突并做出決策, 這個過程需要動機(jī)和預(yù)期價值的共同作用(Roesch amp; Olson, 2004; Verharen et al., 2020)。在趨避沖突的情況下, 追求獎勵的趨近動機(jī)與避免威脅的回避動機(jī)相互對立, 產(chǎn)生動機(jī)競爭(McNally, 2021; McNaughton et al., 2016)。其中, 趨近動機(jī)通常由行為激活系統(tǒng)(BAS)控制, 驅(qū)使個體追求可能帶來積極結(jié)果的行為; 而回避動機(jī)主要涉及避免懲罰和威脅, 由風(fēng)險因素系統(tǒng)(FFFS)和行為抑制系統(tǒng)(BIS)控制, 促使個體避開可能產(chǎn)生消極結(jié)果的選擇。趨近和回避動機(jī)的強(qiáng)度因人而異, 這被認(rèn)為是對某種行為的主觀偏好(Corr, 2004; Corr amp; Cooper, 2016; Gray amp; McNaughton, 2000)。除此之外, 個體還會基于對行為與結(jié)果之間關(guān)系的推測, 從客觀角度計算趨近和回避的預(yù)期價值(Biderman et al., 2020; Lee et al., 2012; Livermore et al., 2021)。相應(yīng)地, 研究發(fā)現(xiàn)個體在面臨可能帶來獎勵或威脅的選擇時, 與結(jié)果相關(guān)的記憶表征變得活躍, 并且表征的強(qiáng)度預(yù)測了隨后的行為選擇, 佐證了在做出決定前存在一個對潛在結(jié)果的價值進(jìn)行模擬的過程(Castegnetti et al., 2020; Cisler et al., 2023)。盡管面對威脅與損失獎賞的預(yù)期編碼在認(rèn)知過程中具有相似性(Kalisch et al., 2019; Tom et al., 2007), 但是個體對損失的厭惡通常超過同等大小的收益(Kahneman amp; Tversky, 1979; Tymula et al., 2023)。這表明獲得和損失并不可以等值替換, 獲得獎勵和面對威脅共同決定趨近的價值, 而失去獎勵和避免威脅共同決定回避的價值。進(jìn)一步的研究發(fā)現(xiàn), 雖然獎勵可以調(diào)節(jié)趨避沖突中的行為反應(yīng), 卻不能調(diào)節(jié)對威脅的預(yù)期(Pittig et al., 2018; Pittig amp; Dehler, 2019; Schlund et al., 2016)。也就是說趨近和回避的預(yù)期價值可能是先獨(dú)立計算出來, 隨后再相互比較從而做出決策。
在實(shí)際決策過程中, 動機(jī)和預(yù)期價值會相互影響, 動機(jī)引導(dǎo)個體的趨近或回避傾向, 而預(yù)期價值反過來又調(diào)節(jié)動機(jī)的強(qiáng)度和方向。具體來說, Moughrabi等(2022)讓被試在三個圖案中進(jìn)行選擇, 每個圖案所獲得獎勵(積分)和遭受威脅(電擊)的概率都不同, 每個試次都包括了三個階段:選擇、預(yù)期和結(jié)果, 并分為一致和沖突兩種條件, 在一致條件下, 獎勵高的圖片觸發(fā)電擊概率的可能性低; 而在沖突條件下, 獎勵高的圖片發(fā)生電擊的概率也高。行為結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn), 被試在較高的威脅情況下仍然傾向于趨近行為, 表現(xiàn)出明顯的偏好。模型比較顯示, 將威脅結(jié)果和獎賞結(jié)果的價值整合到一個總體期望中的模型效果更好, 這些價值由個體對威脅和獎勵的偏好加權(quán)。換而言之, 個體先對回避和趨近行為的預(yù)期價值與動機(jī)進(jìn)行乘積后, 再進(jìn)行比較和整合。并且沖突的核心不僅是刺激的動機(jī)屬性, 而更多地涉及對未來獎勵或威脅的預(yù)期(Doll et al., 2015; Wise et al., 2021)。經(jīng)過對預(yù)期價值和動機(jī)的綜合評估后, 個體做出回避或趨近行為并得到結(jié)果反饋。
2.1.3" 反饋學(xué)習(xí)
結(jié)果反饋會影響未來的決策(Mileti? et al., 2021), 如果結(jié)果與預(yù)期相符合, 個體會強(qiáng)化現(xiàn)有的行為模式, 獎勵結(jié)果有助于強(qiáng)化刺激?行為的關(guān)聯(lián), 從而增加趨近行為的可能性(Ranaldi, 2014)。威脅結(jié)果則被編碼以避免未來類似的威脅, 從而加強(qiáng)回避行為(Feigley amp; Spear, 1970), 最終形成習(xí)慣化; 如果結(jié)果與預(yù)期不相符, 個體計算預(yù)測誤差, 實(shí)際與預(yù)期結(jié)果間的差異觸發(fā)目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí), 基于預(yù)測誤差的大小和方向, 重新調(diào)整回避或趨近的策略(Diederen amp; Schultz, 2015)。根據(jù)學(xué)習(xí)的雙系統(tǒng)理論, 習(xí)慣化系統(tǒng)會與目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向系統(tǒng)進(jìn)行競爭(Keramati et al., 2011; Wood amp; Rünger, 2016)。Glück等人(2021)結(jié)合趨避沖突來評估習(xí)慣性回避對目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向?qū)W習(xí)的影響, 首先是習(xí)慣性回避階段, 讓被試重復(fù)對特定刺激做出回避以避免電擊, 隨后移除電擊來降低威脅刺激的價值, 最后考察被試是否仍然表現(xiàn)出習(xí)慣性回避, 即便此時選擇趨近行為可能帶來獎勵。結(jié)果顯示, 即使特定刺激后面不再跟隨電擊而是獎勵, 習(xí)慣性回避仍然影響著被試的決策, 特別是在目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的行為與之前習(xí)慣化回避的不一致時, 準(zhǔn)確率明顯降低。總之, 習(xí)慣化行為減少了個體對外部反饋和預(yù)測誤差的敏感性, 節(jié)省了認(rèn)知資源的使用。然而當(dāng)與預(yù)期不一致時, 即使明確提示舊有的行為策略不再最優(yōu), 習(xí)慣化行為會干擾目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí), 造成認(rèn)知和行為上的不一致。同時, 無論是哪種反饋學(xué)習(xí)占據(jù)主導(dǎo), 都會在整個認(rèn)知模型中循環(huán), 繼而影響后續(xù)相同或類似情境的決策。
2.2" 趨避沖突的神經(jīng)機(jī)制
2.2.1" 沖突感知:情緒動機(jī)相關(guān)的皮質(zhì)下結(jié)構(gòu)激活
隨著刺激的輸入, 前扣帶回喚醒對沖突刺激的注意, 并快速啟動情緒驅(qū)動的加工過程, 這涉及到杏仁核和腹側(cè)紋狀體等與情緒動機(jī)相關(guān)的皮質(zhì)下結(jié)構(gòu)(Loijen et al., 2020)。對于沖突感知階段, 杏仁核(Amygdala)在感知威脅時迅速響應(yīng), 促進(jìn)個體對潛在威脅保持警覺, 從而增強(qiáng)對威脅刺激的注意和解釋偏向, 使高威脅敏感性個體的加工速度更快, 注意力更集中(Choi amp; Kim, 2010; Diehl et al., 2019; Miller et al., 2019); 相反, 腹側(cè)紋狀體(ventral striatum)的激活增強(qiáng)了個體對獎賞刺激的注意和動機(jī), 從而促進(jìn)趨近動機(jī)并抑制回避動機(jī), 高獎賞敏感性個體表現(xiàn)出更大的獎賞關(guān)注和積極的解釋偏向(LeBlanc et al., 2020; Nguyen et al., 2019)。如圖2a, 在面對趨避沖突刺激時, 首先被激活的是情緒和動機(jī)驅(qū)動的自下而上的加工系統(tǒng), 主要涉及對威脅敏感的杏仁核以及對獎賞敏感的紋狀體, 這些結(jié)構(gòu)為刺激提供情緒效價并傳遞信號。
2.2.2" 沖突處理:以海馬?前額葉為核心的調(diào)控通路
在自下而上的快速加工完成后, 沖突處理階段逐漸由自上而下的加工主導(dǎo)(Kelley et al., 2017; Lacey amp; Gable, 2021; McNally, 2021)。此時, 個體需要編碼預(yù)期并比較趨避沖突, 從而做出決策。這個過程主要依賴于海馬和前額葉皮層及其之間的通路。
腹側(cè)海馬(Ventral Hippocampus, vHPC)被認(rèn)為是處理沖突刺激的關(guān)鍵區(qū)域, 并與動機(jī)行為密切相關(guān)(Bryant amp; Barker, 2020; Fernández-Teruel amp; McNaughton, 2023; Ito amp; Lee, 2016)。在高度趨避沖突的情況下, vHPC激活并發(fā)揮看似相互排斥的作用。一方面vHPC抑制對動機(jī)沖突刺激的趨近反應(yīng)(Rusconi et al., 2022)。例如, Bach等(2014)要求被試在被劫匪抓住的威脅下選擇收集金幣(趨近)或?yàn)楸苊獗蛔プ?dǎo)致失去所有金幣(回避), 并設(shè)置了3種威脅等級, 結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)腹側(cè)海馬的同源區(qū)在受到威脅時激活以阻止趨近行為。進(jìn)一步的研究表明, vHPC的損傷會增加沖突下的趨近行為(Bach et al., 2019), 回避行為也更能解釋海馬的血氧水平依賴信號(Abivardi et al., 2020)。另一方面, vHPC亞區(qū)的失活也導(dǎo)致對沖突刺激的整體回避, 表明這些區(qū)域?qū)吔袨槭┘营?dú)立的控制, 并促進(jìn)趨近行為(Schumacher et al., 2018; Yeates et al., 2022)。這些證據(jù)說明vHPC在趨避沖突中表現(xiàn)出分離作用, 可能是將回避和趨近進(jìn)行比較的關(guān)鍵區(qū)域。前額葉皮層(prefrontal cortex, PFC)是自上而下的認(rèn)知控制的主要區(qū)域, 其中內(nèi)側(cè)前額葉(medial prefrontal cortex, mPFC)是處理趨避沖突的關(guān)鍵節(jié)點(diǎn)(Duval et al., 2015)。不同的mPFC 亞區(qū)和神經(jīng)元群通過激活不同的下游回路, 編碼獎勵和威脅刺激(Pastor amp; Medina, 2021; Rozeske et al., 2018; Ye et al., 2016), 并參與獎勵和厭惡體驗(yàn)(Del Arco et al., 2020)。Gazit等(2020)通過記錄被試在趨避沖突任務(wù)中mPFC以及杏仁核和海馬的神經(jīng)元活動, 發(fā)現(xiàn)mPFC神經(jīng)元更傾向于對威脅做出反應(yīng), 其選擇性編碼動機(jī)結(jié)果的消極性。這些研究說明mPFC不僅能調(diào)控對獎勵和威脅刺激的響應(yīng), 還是預(yù)期編碼的關(guān)鍵區(qū)域。
此外, 趨避沖突的處理還涉及其他神經(jīng)回路, 其中一些傾向于追求獎勵, 而另一些則更多地避免威脅。vHPC對趨避沖突進(jìn)行信息整合并做出決策, 既要接受來自包括杏仁核、紋狀體的信息輸入, 還需要將信息輸出到前額葉皮層等區(qū)域, 從而形成網(wǎng)絡(luò)連接(如圖 2b)。其中vHPC-杏仁核(amygdala, AMY)和vHPC-伏隔核(nucleus accumbens, NAcc)作為主要的傳入回路, vHPC-AMY對整合恐懼相關(guān)刺激尤為重要(Bryant amp; Barker, 2020; Yeates et al., 2020)。vHPC-NAcc回路與對線索的決策以及維持動機(jī)行為有關(guān)(Barker et al., 2018), 該回路的化學(xué)抑制會導(dǎo)致決策時間增加(Patterson, 2020)。mPFC-vHPC則作為一個門控系統(tǒng), PFC可以使用vHPC的信息來指導(dǎo)認(rèn)知控制, 從而編碼獎賞信號以促進(jìn)下游腦區(qū)制定趨近或回避的策略(Moscarello amp; Maren, 2018; Padilla-Coreano et al., 2016)。mPFC對杏仁核自上而下的調(diào)節(jié)被厭惡刺激激活, 從而產(chǎn)生恐懼反應(yīng)并促進(jìn)回避行為(Fernández-Teruel amp; Tobe?a, 2020; Kirry et al., 2020); 同時, mPFC對NAcc的投射則被獎勵刺激激活, 并促進(jìn)趨近行為(Ma et al., 2020), 該通路涉及對獎勵相關(guān)刺激的激活(Otis amp; Mueller, 2017), 以及在面對厭惡線索時抑制尋求獎勵的作用(Piantadosi et al., 2020)。這些結(jié)構(gòu)和通路共同參與精細(xì)的神經(jīng)調(diào)節(jié), 從而決定個體對獎勵和威脅刺激的反應(yīng)策略。
2.2.3" 反饋學(xué)習(xí):皮質(zhì)?基底神經(jīng)節(jié)中的競爭通路
通過自上而下對趨避沖突的比較以及價值編碼后, 個體得以做出決策并開始反饋學(xué)習(xí)。反饋學(xué)習(xí)依賴的是連接皮質(zhì)和基底神經(jīng)節(jié)(basal ganglia, BG)回路(cortical-BG), 紋狀體在其中起重要作用, 可以自主計算用于學(xué)習(xí)的預(yù)測信號誤差, 然后再將信息傳入回路從而調(diào)整行為策略(Baladron amp; Hamker, 2020; Engelhard et al., 2019)。在這一過程中, 存在兩種學(xué)習(xí)系統(tǒng):目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向系統(tǒng)和習(xí)慣化系統(tǒng), 兩個系統(tǒng)在皮質(zhì)?基底神經(jīng)節(jié)回路中相互競爭。
目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向系統(tǒng)依賴于前額葉(PFC)和背內(nèi)側(cè)紋狀體(dorsomedial striatum, DMS相當(dāng)于人類的尾狀核)之間的回路, 其根據(jù)預(yù)期與實(shí)際結(jié)果之間的差異計算預(yù)測誤差, 使得個體能夠靈活地調(diào)整行為; 習(xí)慣化系統(tǒng)則涉及背外側(cè)紋狀體(dorsolateral striatum, DLS相當(dāng)于殼核)在內(nèi)的感覺運(yùn)動皮層?基底神經(jīng)節(jié)回路, 通過反復(fù)地強(qiáng)化現(xiàn)有模式, 可以減少個體對外部反饋和預(yù)測誤差的敏感性, 從而節(jié)省認(rèn)知資源的使用(Baladron amp; Hamker, 2020; Kim amp; Hikosaka, 2015; Wood amp; Rünger, 2016)。Barnett等(2023)通過模擬皮質(zhì)?基底神經(jīng)節(jié)回路, 讓模型執(zhí)行迫選任務(wù), 并測試獎勵貶值和反轉(zhuǎn)條件下模型的適應(yīng)性。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)DLS主導(dǎo)的學(xué)習(xí)顯示出對新規(guī)則的抵抗, 表現(xiàn)出習(xí)慣化行為; 而DMS主導(dǎo)的學(xué)習(xí)則能適應(yīng)新規(guī)則, 反映出目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí)。在破壞PFC的功能后, 目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí)能力降低, 習(xí)慣更難以被改變。總之, 雖然目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向和習(xí)慣化這兩種反饋學(xué)習(xí)系統(tǒng)都依賴于皮質(zhì)?基底神經(jīng)節(jié)回路, 但它們彼此競爭(如圖2c)。長期的習(xí)慣化行為可能導(dǎo)致大腦的決策制定路徑變得相對固定, 因而更新行為策略變得更加困難, 即使個體意識到新的策略可能帶來更大的獎勵, 改變根深蒂固的行為模式也需要更多的努力。
3" 焦慮個體的趨避沖突失調(diào)
趨避沖突的三階段模型認(rèn)為解決趨避沖突包括沖突感知、沖突處理和反饋學(xué)習(xí)(圖1), 而焦慮的影響可能不限于某一個階段, 且焦慮涉及的腦區(qū)與解決趨避沖突所依賴的神經(jīng)機(jī)制相重疊(Aupperle amp; Paulus, 2010; Fernández-Teruel amp; Tobe?a, 2020, 圖2d)。接下來, 我們將詳細(xì)探討焦慮對這三個關(guān)鍵階段的具體影響, 揭示其趨避沖突失調(diào)的整體機(jī)制。
3.1" 威脅感知的增強(qiáng)
研究者開發(fā)了行為抑制量表(Behavioral Inhibition Scale, Carver amp; White, 1994)作為敏感性測量工具, 發(fā)現(xiàn)行為抑制得分與焦慮得分呈正相關(guān)且可以預(yù)測焦慮水平(Izadpanah et al., 2016)。高威脅敏感性的個體會更傾向于關(guān)注與威脅相關(guān)的線索并產(chǎn)生更消極的反應(yīng), 這種傾向可能導(dǎo)致長時間的焦慮和恐懼。自我報告和點(diǎn)探測的研究發(fā)現(xiàn), 焦慮個體對威脅的注意和解釋加工都會受到影響(Bar-Haim et al., 2007; Kreuze et al., 2020; Mathews amp; MacLeod, 2002)。Yamamori等(2023)通過計算建模對威脅敏感性和獎賞敏感性進(jìn)行參數(shù)化, 研究結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)較高的威脅敏感性能解釋處于焦慮狀態(tài)的個體在趨避沖突中為何傾向于采取回避行為。在趨避沖突的早期輸入階段, 焦慮個體的高威脅敏感性導(dǎo)致他們對威脅刺激的注意和解釋偏差, 這種威脅感知能力的增強(qiáng)可能反映出了焦慮個體對潛在的威脅更加敏感, 從而傾向于選擇回避作為一種適應(yīng)性的反應(yīng)。
以威脅、獎賞的神經(jīng)處理為目標(biāo)的研究確定了焦慮所帶來的影響, 主要表現(xiàn)為焦慮使得杏仁核對威脅的反應(yīng)性增加, 也使紋狀體對獎賞的反應(yīng)性降低(Auerbach et al., 2022; Chavanne amp; Robinson, 2021; McDermott et al., 2022; Stelly et al., 2020)。具有焦慮傾向的個體, 其威脅注意偏向和高警覺性與杏仁核過度活躍有關(guān)(Fox et al., 2018; Oler et al., 2010)。而杏仁核的過度激活可能導(dǎo)致個體對線索關(guān)聯(lián)的感知出現(xiàn)紊亂, 可能是負(fù)性偏向的原因(Stout et al., 2017)。總之, 焦慮個體在早期的信息加工處理中, 杏仁核和紋狀體在面對威脅和獎賞刺激時表現(xiàn)出不平衡的反應(yīng), 杏仁核的過度活躍加劇了趨避沖突信息中對威脅信息的感知, 而對獎賞敏感的紋狀體激活程度降低, 導(dǎo)致對威脅成分產(chǎn)生偏向。
3.2" 預(yù)期價值和動機(jī)比較的失衡
信息進(jìn)入趨避沖突處理階段時, 焦慮個體過高的威脅敏感性導(dǎo)致BAS和FFFS兩個動機(jī)系統(tǒng)的過度激活, 促使個體采取回避行為以減少不安和恐懼, 導(dǎo)致其回避動機(jī)增加(Corr amp; Cooper, 2016; Dickson, 2006), 而BAS的活性可能由于擔(dān)憂和害怕失敗而受到抑制, 從而減少趨近的動機(jī)(Richey et al., 2019; Sequeira et al., 2022)。另一方面, 由于對威脅的注意和解釋偏差可能會高估潛在威脅, 從而增加回避行為的相對價值和權(quán)重, 以此確保自己的安全, 導(dǎo)致焦慮個體對回避反應(yīng)的期望值偏高。他們更有可能夸大威脅的成本和可能性, 形成過度悲觀的預(yù)期(Grupe amp; Nitschke, 2013; Mitte, 2008), 并且難以減輕對未來威脅的期望(Rief et al., 2022; Zorowitz et al., 2020)。這導(dǎo)致他們在各種情況下都存在高水平的回避, 而不是特定于某種強(qiáng)化或過度學(xué)習(xí)的行為(Ball amp; Gunaydin, 2022; Loijen et al., 2020)。Pittig等(2023)借助期望違背來改變焦慮障礙患者的威脅預(yù)期, 讓威脅呈現(xiàn)后不跟隨預(yù)期的結(jié)果(例如, 被試預(yù)期在發(fā)言時被嘲笑的概率很高, 實(shí)際上得到的是友好的提問)。發(fā)現(xiàn)威脅預(yù)期被違背的越多, 焦慮的治療效果越好。Charpentier等(2017)采用賭博任務(wù)發(fā)現(xiàn)焦慮患者在決策中表現(xiàn)出增強(qiáng)的風(fēng)險厭惡, 而對獎賞得失的重視程度與對照組沒有顯著差異, 與此相似的是, 焦慮障礙組可以依靠更少的觀察來估計某種行為的厭惡值, 而對獎賞價值的估計沒有組間差異(Aylward et al., 2019)。綜上所述, 焦慮個體可能會高估潛在威脅, 從而增加回避的預(yù)期價值以保證自己的安全, 但焦慮對趨近價值的計算所產(chǎn)生的影響還尚未清楚。對焦慮個體的趨避沖突失調(diào)的解釋需要同時關(guān)注動機(jī)和價值的異常計算, 焦慮個體回避動機(jī)的過度激活以及對回避價值的增加, 使得其乘積的異常增加, 因此即使威脅很小, 也表現(xiàn)出過度的回避行為; 而趨近動機(jī)又因?yàn)榭謶趾蛽?dān)憂受到抑制, 即使對趨近價值的評估與健康個體相同的情況下, 其趨近動機(jī)和價值的乘積依然低于正常值, 因此即使?jié)撛讵勝p很大, 在進(jìn)行比較后, 焦慮個體依舊選擇回避行為。
動機(jī)和預(yù)期價值的失衡表明, 焦慮個體評估趨避沖突以及期望計算的神經(jīng)回路可能存在異常。當(dāng)趨避沖突發(fā)生時, 腹側(cè)海馬(vHPC)負(fù)責(zé)仲裁和比較, 在趨近和回避之間進(jìn)行決策, 而vHPC對焦慮非常敏感(Bryant amp; Barker, 2020; Shi et al., 2023; Xia amp; Kheirbek, 2020), 一方面焦慮可以通過改變突觸可塑性, 影響vHPC的興奮?抑制平衡, 破壞趨避沖突中的比較功能(Couch et al., 2021); 另一方面, vHPC是調(diào)節(jié)焦慮的神經(jīng)回路的中心, 其中vHPC-AMY回路負(fù)責(zé)接收與威脅相關(guān)的感官刺激, 并在處理與焦慮相關(guān)的事件中發(fā)揮作用, 其信號增強(qiáng)導(dǎo)致焦慮行為, 焦慮傾向個體vHPC-AMY的信息傳遞同步率顯著增強(qiáng)(Felix- Ortiz et al., 2013; Jimenez et al., 2018)。vHPC- mPFC作為主要的門控回路, 可以同時促進(jìn)或抑制焦慮相關(guān)的行為表現(xiàn), 從而實(shí)現(xiàn)雙向調(diào)節(jié), 并在theta頻率范圍內(nèi)傳遞焦慮信號, 這些信息與趨避沖突測試中的回避相關(guān)(Padilla-Coreano et al., 2016; Sánchez-Bellot et al., 2022)。總之, vHPC和相關(guān)腦區(qū)神經(jīng)回路的連接是調(diào)節(jié)焦慮行為的生理基礎(chǔ), 在以自上而下的控制占據(jù)主導(dǎo)時, 由于焦慮導(dǎo)致vHPC比較功能的損壞以及在回路中放大焦慮信號, 從而讓個體對無害的刺激也產(chǎn)生過高的威脅預(yù)期。
期望值的計算是一個動態(tài)的過程, 內(nèi)部期望主要通過自上而下的神經(jīng)投射傳遞, 該過程的功能障礙可能導(dǎo)致個體反復(fù)對可預(yù)測的事件感到意外, 夸大了刺激的顯著性, 導(dǎo)致神經(jīng)資源過度分配(Howlett amp; Paulus, 2020)。自上而下的預(yù)期編碼需要PFC的參與, 而焦慮個體的威脅期望過高, 可能是PFC過度的激活從而在權(quán)衡時產(chǎn)生的偏差(Mack et al., 2023)。此外, 焦慮還會引發(fā)內(nèi)部預(yù)測信號的失調(diào), 這主要依賴于紋狀體對獎勵幅度和概率的處理(Bech et al., 2023; Cornwell et al., 2017; Garrison et al., 2013), 以及杏仁核對威脅信息過度反應(yīng)所引發(fā)的高度預(yù)期(Costa et al., 2016; Iordanova et al., 2021)。腹側(cè)紋狀體和杏仁核以不同的方式處理信號, 然后傳入mPFC來編碼回避和趨近的相對價值和權(quán)重。這些系統(tǒng)的穩(wěn)態(tài)失衡將導(dǎo)致期望價值更消極, 從而引起趨避沖突失調(diào)。
3.3" 反饋學(xué)習(xí)的異常
焦慮個體放大的威脅預(yù)期和對回避過高的預(yù)期價值會影響得到反饋后的學(xué)習(xí)過程, 然而焦慮對目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向和習(xí)慣化兩個學(xué)習(xí)系統(tǒng)的影響并不一致。在目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)習(xí)中, Pittig等(2021)通過趨避沖突來調(diào)節(jié)焦慮障礙患者的回避反應(yīng), 結(jié)果表明當(dāng)獎賞和威脅刺激相競爭時, 焦慮障礙組無法減少回避, 即使在威脅消失后, 其回避行為減少仍然有限。而焦慮狀態(tài)并不會顯著損害個體的目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的控制(Gillan et al., 2021); 對于習(xí)慣化學(xué)習(xí)的研究表明, 焦慮傾向會促進(jìn)習(xí)慣性行為的轉(zhuǎn)變(Flores et al., 2018; Pittig et al., 2020), 在另外一些研究中, 相比于健康對照組, 焦慮狀態(tài)組和焦慮障礙組都沒有顯示出更強(qiáng)的習(xí)慣性傾向, 即使他們整體表現(xiàn)出較低的趨近率(Gillan et al., 2021; Glück et al., 2023; Roberts et al., 2022)。這種情況可能是由于焦慮個體在目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向和習(xí)慣化兩者的切換中存在缺陷, 而不是如Gillan等(2015)假設(shè)的“脆弱的目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向系統(tǒng)導(dǎo)致陷入習(xí)慣化”。Howlett和Paulus (2020)要求焦慮障礙被試在兩個無關(guān)項的干擾下識別目標(biāo)刺激, 而每30個試次后, 目標(biāo)刺激出現(xiàn)的頻率和獲得獎勵的條件都會改變, 結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)焦慮對于符合預(yù)期的決策更新沒有影響, 而是與基于環(huán)境情境適應(yīng)的能力受損有關(guān), 這可能導(dǎo)致處理預(yù)期和實(shí)際不符結(jié)果的反應(yīng)過度。焦慮傾向的個體對穩(wěn)定環(huán)境和動蕩環(huán)境之間調(diào)整更新結(jié)果預(yù)期的能力較弱(Browning et al., 2015; Lamba et al., 2020), 可能是由于更強(qiáng)的先驗(yàn)信念造成的(Paulus, 2020)。因此, 焦慮個體的缺陷可能是由于期望的僵化即習(xí)慣化與目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向的信息更新形成抵抗, 在需要對兩種學(xué)習(xí)系統(tǒng)進(jìn)行頻繁的轉(zhuǎn)換時, 出現(xiàn)不靈活的問題, 導(dǎo)致行為調(diào)整的失敗。
涉及目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向和習(xí)慣化系統(tǒng)的神經(jīng)機(jī)制主要在額葉皮層和紋狀體以及周圍神經(jīng)活動的變化(Banca et al., 2015), 這種異常的神經(jīng)活動主要基于強(qiáng)迫癥的研究(見綜述Fineberg et al., 2018)。mPFC過度激活與無法更新威脅預(yù)期顯著相關(guān)(Apergis-Schoute et al., 2017), 該區(qū)域的功能失調(diào)以及與紋狀體的功能連接減少導(dǎo)致無法靈活地更新恐懼反應(yīng), 并持續(xù)進(jìn)行習(xí)慣性強(qiáng)迫活動。盡管焦慮狀態(tài)的誘發(fā)涉及到紋狀體(McDermott et al., 2022; Robinson et al., 2013), 但Chavanne和Robinson (2021)的元分析認(rèn)為, 焦慮狀態(tài)和焦慮障礙的重疊腦區(qū)在于mPFC的異常激活, 而非重疊區(qū)域(如紋狀體)的功能缺陷可能是焦慮狀態(tài)向焦慮障礙轉(zhuǎn)化的中間機(jī)制。焦慮個體在目標(biāo)導(dǎo)向和習(xí)慣化系統(tǒng)之間的轉(zhuǎn)換不靈活, 可能是由于前額皮質(zhì)節(jié)點(diǎn)缺乏自上而下的抑制控制, 額葉與尾狀核的功能連接的減少降低了認(rèn)知靈活性, 從而阻礙了快速的學(xué)習(xí)轉(zhuǎn)換。因此, 焦慮導(dǎo)致反饋學(xué)習(xí)異常的關(guān)鍵節(jié)點(diǎn)或許在于mPFC受損, 這也需要后續(xù)更多的研究來證明。
4" 總結(jié)與展望
本文從理論模型和神經(jīng)機(jī)制兩個層面對趨避沖突的認(rèn)知神經(jīng)機(jī)制進(jìn)行了總結(jié), 并在前人研究的基礎(chǔ)上提出了趨避沖突的三階段模型, 試圖進(jìn)一步解釋焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)的整體機(jī)制。該模型強(qiáng)調(diào)預(yù)期值計算和動機(jī)比較在趨避沖突處理中的相互作用, 并且在得到反饋后更新判斷從而幫助個體解決趨避沖突, 這依賴于自上而下相關(guān)神經(jīng)回路的編碼和比較功能。焦慮會影響模型的各個階段以及相應(yīng)神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)的穩(wěn)態(tài), 導(dǎo)致個體在趨避沖突中的失衡。然而目前的研究還存在一些尚未解決的問題:
4.1" 趨避沖突三階段模型的進(jìn)一步驗(yàn)證
趨避沖突三階段模型的提出主要基于三點(diǎn):(1)動機(jī)、條件化以及強(qiáng)化學(xué)習(xí)等不同領(lǐng)域的理論整合; (2)健康個體在趨避沖突中的行為和神經(jīng)反應(yīng); (3)焦慮個體在趨避沖突中的異常表現(xiàn)以及焦慮涉及趨避沖突相關(guān)的神經(jīng)機(jī)制。但將這三點(diǎn)聯(lián)系起來的實(shí)證研究較少, 鑒于趨避沖突情景和焦慮不同表型的復(fù)雜性, 未來的研究或許可以從以下兩個方面進(jìn)行:
一方面, 在趨避沖突的復(fù)雜情景下, 模型中不同的認(rèn)知機(jī)制可能在實(shí)驗(yàn)設(shè)計中被混淆。常見的潛在獎賞為金錢或積分, 潛在威脅則通常是電擊或恐怖圖片, 這樣的設(shè)置可能導(dǎo)致對回避和趨近的預(yù)期價值并不匹配, 而個體對于回避動機(jī)和趨近動機(jī)也存在主觀偏好。如果不能嚴(yán)格控制, 可能導(dǎo)致預(yù)期編碼和內(nèi)部動機(jī)之間的混淆, 可以在趨避沖突前增加威脅和獎勵的匹配程序(Wong amp; Pittig, 2022)。此外, 由于從經(jīng)驗(yàn)中學(xué)習(xí)偶發(fā)事件的概率與明確提供概率結(jié)果對行為決策的影響不同(Baczkowski et al., 2023; Hertwig amp; Erev, 2009), 表明不同階段還可能受到刺激結(jié)構(gòu)(如不確定性)的影響。未來還需要進(jìn)一步的實(shí)證工作來確定這些階段的相對獨(dú)立性。
另一方面, 未來研究需要評估趨避沖突失調(diào)與焦慮的關(guān)系。焦慮作為一種指向未來的情緒, 主要涉及對未來真實(shí)/想象的威脅預(yù)期(Fung et al., 2019; Grupe amp; Nitschke, 2013), 而趨避沖突的解決需要預(yù)測和模擬未來事件, 對于潛在獎勵和威脅的差異模擬分別使得行為偏向趨近與回避(Gilbert amp; Wilson, 2007; Moughrabi et al., 2022)。后續(xù)的研究需要回答威脅感知的增強(qiáng)、動機(jī)和預(yù)期的失衡以及反饋學(xué)習(xí)的異常, 是否會增加患焦慮障礙的風(fēng)險?還是說這些階段的受損是長期焦慮所導(dǎo)致的后果?此外, 以改變威脅預(yù)期為主要目的療法, 實(shí)現(xiàn)了對焦慮障礙的有效治療(Craske et al., 2022; Pittig et al., 2023), 后續(xù)還可以繼續(xù)探索焦慮的改善與這三個階段的神經(jīng)反應(yīng)正常化是否相關(guān)。
4.2" 趨避沖突三階段模型的參數(shù)化
解決趨避沖突的過程可能涉及到刺激本身、個體自身的學(xué)習(xí)經(jīng)驗(yàn)以及個體對獎賞或威脅的敏感性差異(Aupperle amp; Paulus, 2010; Letkiewicz et al., 2023)。其中的任一因素都可能受到焦慮的影響從而導(dǎo)致趨避沖突的失調(diào), 然而其中的具體機(jī)制難以通過行為反應(yīng)直接觀察到。計算精神病學(xué)(computational psychiatry)使用數(shù)學(xué)模型(例如, 基于貝葉斯定理的模型)來解釋無法直接觀察到的病理行為的心理和神經(jīng)生理基礎(chǔ)(Smith et al., 2020; Vasilchenko amp; Chumakov, 2023)。通過對學(xué)習(xí)和決策過程的參數(shù)化, 研究發(fā)現(xiàn)焦慮個體的趨避沖突失調(diào)可以用內(nèi)部處理計算模型中特定參數(shù)的變異來解釋, 比如敏感性(Yamamori et al., 2023)、悲觀信念(Zorowitz et al., 2020)、行動的信心(Smith et al., 2021)等。然而, 目前將計算模型的方法應(yīng)用于理解焦慮中的趨避沖突的研究非常有限, 并且難以完整描述刺激感知、預(yù)期到行為輸出到底如何實(shí)現(xiàn)。未來可以嘗試將趨避沖突的階段劃分為不同的子模型, 通過分層和模塊化的方法, 不僅可以進(jìn)一步理解焦慮如何影響個體在復(fù)雜情景中的表現(xiàn), 還可以通過調(diào)整特定的模型參數(shù)(如增加或減少威脅, 或改變對獎賞的評價等)來模擬不同焦慮程度下的變化。
4.3" 從發(fā)展的視角考察焦慮個體的趨避沖突失調(diào)
先前的研究主要集中在焦慮個體的威脅敏感性和回避特征上(Katz et al., 2020), 其測試的群體以成年人為主, 然而焦慮障礙首次出現(xiàn)的高峰時期在青春期, 該時期對情緒高度敏感且具有高度的神經(jīng)可塑性(Towner et al., 2023)。最近的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)青少年的焦慮水平和冒險行為成正比, 獎賞敏感性在其中起調(diào)節(jié)作用, 焦慮水平高且獎賞敏感性高的青少年表現(xiàn)出更多尋求刺激的行為(Baker et al., 2022; 李曉明 等, 2022), 成年人的焦慮僅僅與回避和威脅敏感性相關(guān), 而青少年的焦慮行為表現(xiàn)更為復(fù)雜。原因可能是青春期大腦發(fā)育的不平衡, 其中負(fù)責(zé)處理獎勵和威脅信息的系統(tǒng)(杏仁核和紋狀體)在面對刺激時過度激活, 而認(rèn)知控制和比較系統(tǒng)(前額葉和海馬體)尚未發(fā)育完全(Baker amp; Galván, 2020; Fernández-Teruel, 2021), 導(dǎo)致該時期對正反饋的渴望和對負(fù)反饋的害怕, 并且難以通過自上而下的調(diào)節(jié)來平衡沖突。總之, 焦慮青少年在面對沖突時表現(xiàn)出過度趨近或回避兩種截然相反的行為, 在成年人中卻只與過度回避有關(guān)。未來研究可以通過縱向追蹤和多模態(tài)的研究來探索焦慮個體趨避沖突失調(diào)的發(fā)展軌跡。
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Understanding approach-avoidance conflict dysregulation in anxiety: Cognitive processes and neural mechanisms
XIA Yi, ZHANG Jie, ZHANG Huoyin, LEI Yi, DOU Haoran
(Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China)
Abstract: Effectively resolving approach-avoidance conflicts is crucial in everyday life. However, anxious individuals exhibit behavioral manifestations of dysregulated approach-avoidance conflict. This dysregulation is characterized by abandoning positive outcomes to avoid stimuli that are unrelated to actual threats or less threatening. Traditional motivational theories divide individuals’ coping with approach-avoidance conflict into information input and behavioral output processes. However, these are insufficient to fully explain the specific mechanisms underlying approach-avoidance conflict dysregulation. In this review, we propose a three-stage model comprising conflict perception, conflict processing, and feedback learning. This model emphasizes that approach-avoidance conflict dysregulation in anxious individuals may manifest as heightened threat perception, imbalanced motivation-expected value comparison, and abnormal feedback learning. Future research can further validate the relative independence of these three stages in the model, parameterize the model through hierarchical and modular methods, and explore the mechanisms underlying approach-avoidance conflict dysregulation in anxious individuals through a developmental perspective.
Keywords: anxiety, approach-avoidance conflict, expected value, motivation, cognitive neural mechanism