The Social Regulation of Threat-related Vigilance and Arousal

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will examine the effects of social support on threat vigilance and arousal using eye tracking. We will also test the moderating effects of trauma and discrimination history.

Detailed Description
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Both interpersonal trauma (IPT) and ethno-racial discrimination amplify risk for hyper-arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the mechanism of this effect is unclear. Prior research suggests that social support plays an important role in regulating emotional responses, a process called social emotion regulation. This study will test whether a history of IPT and/or ethno-racial discrimination influence the social regulation of arousal and vigilance. Social regulation will be tested by contrasting responses under conditions with and without social support.

Official Title
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Effects of Trauma and Discrimination on the Social Regulation of Threat-related Vigilance and Arousal

Conditions
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Psychological Trauma, Historical, Discrimination, Racial, Emotion Regulation, Social Interaction, Hypervigilance, Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: social support


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: In a stable romantic relationship for 6 months or more Normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision Fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: If vision is corrected-to-normal, needs to use hard contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, or glasses Experienced a traumatic event within the past 4 weeks

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Social support from a romantic partner<br>Participants will hold the hand of their romantic partner | Behavioral: social support<br>* social support is provided in the form of social touch (hand holding)<br>|
| Active Comparator: Social support from a stranger<br>Participants will hold the hand of a stranger | Behavioral: social support<br>* social support is provided in the form of social touch (hand holding)<br>|
| No Intervention: No social support<br>Participants will hold a stress ball | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vigilance Related Eye Movements - Number of Eye Fixations | Participants will view 15 pictures of natural environmental scenes for 10 seconds per image. We will use an eye tracker to examine the number of eye fixations per scene. A greater number of fixations during the 10 second presentation of a scene would indicate greater vigilance. | Collected from minute 15 to minute 45 of study participation, approximately | 
| Vigilance Related Eye Movements - Visual Scanning | Participants will view 15 pictures of natural environmental scenes for 10 seconds per image. We will use an eye tracker to examine the proportion of the scene that they look at (fixate on) out of approximately 80 possible sectors. A greater proportion of the scene they fixate on would indicate greater vigilance. | Collected from minute 15 to minute 45 of study participation, approximately | 
| Threat-Related Physiological Arousal - Pupil Dilation | Participants will view a series of visual cues (either an 'X' or an 'O') where an 'X' signals a possible (20% probability) aversive auditory stimulus (human scream). We will examine pupil dilation during the task in order to measure arousal in response to uncertain threat. We will calculate average pupil dilation during the wait period after threat cues (X) and after safety cues (O). We will subtract average pupil dilation after safety cues from threat cues to create an index of threat-related arousal. Greater pupil dilation (for threat minus safety cues) would indicate greater threat-related arousal. | Collected from minute 45 to minute 75 of study participation, approximately | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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psychological trauma, ethnoracial discrimination, hypervigilance, anticipated threat, social emotion regulation, social touch