Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Study to Observe Behavioral Inhibition and Anxiety Vulnerability — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
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James Ripley

Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Study to Observe Behavioral Inhibition and Anxiety Vulnerability

Name: Emma Patschorke
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Ballwin, MO
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Martino
Other Sponsors: Miller, Daniel and Miller, Justin
Type of research: Independent research

Name: Kathryn McAuliffe
Major: Neuroscience and Psychology
Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Martino
Other Sponsors: Miller, Daniel and Miller, Justin
Type of research: Independent research

Name: Theresa Regetz
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Lyndhurst, NJ
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Martino
Other Sponsors: Miller, Daniel and Miller, Justin
Type of research: Independent research

Name: Nicholas Santos
Major: Exercise and Sport Science
Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Martino
Other Sponsors: Miller, Daniel and Miller, Justin
Type of research: Independent research

Abstract

Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Study to Observe Avoidance Behaviors and Anxiety Vulnerability

Kathryn McAuliffe, Emma Patschorke, Theresa Regetz, Nicholas Santos, Justin Miller, Ph.D., Daniel Miller, Ph.D., and Paul F. Martino, M.S., Ph.D.

Abstract

Background: Those with high behavioral inhibition (BI) learn faster and take longer to stop responding to the stimulus after it ends using operant conditioning (Sheynin, 2014; Servatius, 2008). Humans with high BI are more vulnerable to develop the pathological disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) upon exposure to an unusually stressful situation. One defining feature of PTSD is an avoidance behavior that persists despite the cessation of the stressful event. Using 4% carbon dioxide as a mild stress stimulant, avoidance behavior as measured by an avoidance task can show differences in those with BI compared to those without it. CO2 provokes a stress response by decreasing the pH of the blood, hence causing exhalations to increase to reduce the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide, increasing breathing rate overall. The stress response provoked by the increase in blood acidity is likely to produce a hormonal response by increasing saliva cortisol levels.

Methods: CO2 will be mixed in a Tissot Spirometer to a 4% mixture and delivered via a mask through a closed tubing system. To ensure a 4% mixture, each time the gas is mixed in the Tissot Spirometer, it will be tested using the Oxigraf CO2 and O2 analyzer for the exact CO2 percentage . Cortisol will be measured in the future by analyzing saliva samples taken before and after the test.

Goal: By using carbon dioxide as a mild stressor, the avoidance behavior in participants can be measured to determine the relationship between avoidance behaviors under stress for those with high and low BI.