Intracranial Neurophysiological Signatures of Fear and Anxiety in Humans

Description

Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affect a large number of individuals with a significant portion of patients failing to improve with current treatments. The purpose of this study is to understand the brain mechanisms that produce fear and anxiety in humans. To accomplish this goal, we will measure the brain activity along with the heart rate and skin perspiration of patients while they are completing tasks on a computer. Some of the tasks will also use a virtual reality headset and transport the patient in a video game-like environment. These tasks will expose the participants to various levels of fear-provoking images.

Conditions

Fear, GAD, Emotional Memory, PTSD

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affect a large number of individuals with a significant portion of patients failing to improve with current treatments. The purpose of this study is to understand the brain mechanisms that produce fear and anxiety in humans. To accomplish this goal, we will measure the brain activity along with the heart rate and skin perspiration of patients while they are completing tasks on a computer. Some of the tasks will also use a virtual reality headset and transport the patient in a video game-like environment. These tasks will expose the participants to various levels of fear-provoking images.

Intracranial Neurophysiological Signatures of Fear and Anxiety in Humans

Intracranial Neurophysiological Signatures of Fear and Anxiety in Humans

Condition
Fear
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Los Angeles

University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90024

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * 18 years of age or older
  • * Has undergone acute depth or chronic responsive neurostimulation (RNS) electrode placement
  • * Willing to provide informed consent and participate in the study
  • * Ability to read and write English fluently
  • * Unwilling to provide informed consent
  • * Not a native English Speaker
  • * Has not undergone acute depth or chronic responsive neurostimulation (RNS) electrode placement
  • * Pregnant women
  • * Participants with active psychosis
  • * Participants with suicidal ideation
  • * Participants with substance abuse issues

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of California, Los Angeles,

Study Record Dates

2026-06-30