1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,840 NEURON MENA: Hi, this is Neuron Mena from NAMI Montana. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,600 I want to speak to you for a few minutes today about 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,750 an important development in mental illness research. 4 00:00:09,750 --> 00:00:16,230 The National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria, or RDoC. 5 00:00:16,230 --> 00:00:21,540 RDoC grew out of an agency's goal to develop new ways of classifying 6 00:00:21,540 --> 00:00:27,360 mental disorders based on behavioral dimensions and neural biological measures. 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,930 In the opinion of this humble neuron, 8 00:00:30,930 --> 00:00:34,560 it's a great effort because the interactions of 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:41,575 over a hundred billion neurons in the brain are incredibly hard to understand. 10 00:00:41,575 --> 00:00:44,860 The need for a more systematic framework to tie 11 00:00:44,860 --> 00:00:47,890 together this research has only become clear 12 00:00:47,890 --> 00:00:50,050 as the technology is capable of adding 13 00:00:50,050 --> 00:00:54,340 valuable information about brain function has increased. 14 00:00:54,340 --> 00:00:58,690 For instance, it's going to take a clear research framework to 15 00:00:58,690 --> 00:01:03,775 ensure that the information gathered through combinations of psychological surveys, 16 00:01:03,775 --> 00:01:08,050 fMRI brain scans, EEG recordings, 17 00:01:08,050 --> 00:01:14,320 genetic testing, blood work and other tools clarifies our understanding of the brain 18 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:19,805 rather than making things murkier by piling on seemingly unconnected data. 19 00:01:19,805 --> 00:01:23,175 Here is the RDoC matrix. 20 00:01:23,175 --> 00:01:29,740 The domain's constructs and sub-constructs are on the left side of the matrix. 21 00:01:29,740 --> 00:01:32,035 We'll get into those in more detail. 22 00:01:32,035 --> 00:01:34,360 But in absolute layman's terms, 23 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,480 these are characteristics of brain functioning, 24 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,375 such as how our brain responds to fear. 25 00:01:40,375 --> 00:01:42,385 How our brain responds to threat? 26 00:01:42,385 --> 00:01:44,890 How do you visually perceive images? 27 00:01:44,890 --> 00:01:48,255 How are your sleep cycles, etc? 28 00:01:48,255 --> 00:01:52,415 The top of the graph is composed of the units of measure. 29 00:01:52,415 --> 00:01:56,975 In layman's terms, these are different ways that you can measure brain function. 30 00:01:56,975 --> 00:02:02,690 For instance, researchers may use psychological self-report surveys, genetics, 31 00:02:02,690 --> 00:02:05,780 brain circuits shown in fMRI scans, 32 00:02:05,780 --> 00:02:09,395 descriptions of the specific kinds of cells involved, 33 00:02:09,395 --> 00:02:13,000 molecules that may function as neurotransmitters. 34 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,420 We'll go back to the broad view of our RDoC matrix in a second 35 00:02:17,420 --> 00:02:19,460 but I think it helps to start with 36 00:02:19,460 --> 00:02:24,215 the analysis of a very specific brain function characteristics. 37 00:02:24,215 --> 00:02:29,045 Specifically, how does a person respond to acute fear? 38 00:02:29,045 --> 00:02:35,100 Start by going to NIMH's web page for the Research Domain Criteria Matrix. 39 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:38,730 Then click on the acute threat fear link. 40 00:02:38,730 --> 00:02:41,580 That link will open up and shows a number of different units 41 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:45,060 of analysis for research in acute threat fear. 42 00:02:45,060 --> 00:02:49,575 Some of the units of analysis for acute threat study include 43 00:02:49,575 --> 00:02:55,495 genes such as BDNF and 5-HT/5-HTRs, 44 00:02:55,495 --> 00:02:59,405 molecules such as dopamine and serotonin, 45 00:02:59,405 --> 00:03:03,395 cells like neurons, glia, and pyramidal cells, 46 00:03:03,395 --> 00:03:06,050 circuits such as central nucleus. 47 00:03:06,050 --> 00:03:10,505 Physiological characteristics like skin conductance and heart rate. 48 00:03:10,505 --> 00:03:14,675 Behavioral characteristics such as freezing and response time. 49 00:03:14,675 --> 00:03:18,020 Psychological self-report surveys such as the 50 00:03:18,020 --> 00:03:21,605 fear survey schedule and fear questionnaire, 51 00:03:21,605 --> 00:03:26,615 and psychological paradigms like fear conditioning. 52 00:03:26,615 --> 00:03:30,260 This framework provides a comprehensive breakdown of 53 00:03:30,260 --> 00:03:34,580 the methods and measures to analyze acute threat. 54 00:03:34,580 --> 00:03:37,610 The units of analysis can eliminate 55 00:03:37,610 --> 00:03:41,645 potential connections between brain function characteristics. 56 00:03:41,645 --> 00:03:45,050 The list of the units of analysis can also help identify 57 00:03:45,050 --> 00:03:48,710 brain function characteristics that have significant research gaps. 58 00:03:48,710 --> 00:03:52,430 For instance, clearly, language doesn't happen 59 00:03:52,430 --> 00:03:56,780 without molecules acting as neurotransmitters and cell transmitting information. 60 00:03:56,780 --> 00:04:01,625 There's a likely need to reevaluate prior research or conduct 61 00:04:01,625 --> 00:04:04,190 new research to better understand those units of 62 00:04:04,190 --> 00:04:07,270 analysis for this brain function characteristic. 63 00:04:07,270 --> 00:04:11,160 Now, they've given you a little depth on units of analysis, 64 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,840 let's look harder at the other side of 65 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,830 the graph and the brain function characteristics being mentioned. 66 00:04:16,830 --> 00:04:19,590 NIMH describes the rows as 67 00:04:19,590 --> 00:04:25,635 specific functional constructs representing a specific function dimension of behavior. 68 00:04:25,635 --> 00:04:28,290 Those constructs that are grouped into domains 69 00:04:28,290 --> 00:04:30,870 based upon the current understanding of emotion, 70 00:04:30,870 --> 00:04:34,050 cognition, motivation, and social behavior. 71 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:38,485 There are currently five domains in the RDoC matrix. 72 00:04:38,485 --> 00:04:43,925 The five domains are negative valence systems, positive valence systems, 73 00:04:43,925 --> 00:04:52,100 cognitive systems, systems for social processes and the arousal of regulatory system. 74 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:57,900 The negative valence systems are the system primarily responsible for 75 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:04,095 responses to aversive situations or contexts such as fear, anxiety, and loss. 76 00:05:04,095 --> 00:05:09,480 The positive valence systems are the systems primarily responsible for responses to 77 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:14,670 positively motivational situations or contexts such as reward seeking, 78 00:05:14,670 --> 00:05:19,710 conservatory behavior, and reward or habit learning. 79 00:05:19,710 --> 00:05:26,065 The cognitive systems are the systems responsible for various cognitive processes. 80 00:05:26,065 --> 00:05:29,720 The systems for social processes are the systems that 81 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,635 mediate responses to interpersonal settings of various types, 82 00:05:33,635 --> 00:05:38,825 including perception and interpretation of others' actions. 83 00:05:38,825 --> 00:05:42,230 The arousal regulatory systems are the systems 84 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:46,040 responsible for generating activation of neural systems as 85 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,490 appropriate for various contexts and providing 86 00:05:49,490 --> 00:05:53,705 the appropriate homeostatic regulation of such systems as energy, 87 00:05:53,705 --> 00:05:55,700 balance, and sleep. 88 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:59,090 Once you've got a basic understanding of the RDoC matrix, 89 00:05:59,090 --> 00:06:01,670 it's easy to see how it opens up the door for 90 00:06:01,670 --> 00:06:05,195 really cool multi-dimensional brain research. 91 00:06:05,195 --> 00:06:10,070 For instance, how many sub-constructs are impacted by 92 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:15,685 a deficiency in a specific molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter? 93 00:06:15,685 --> 00:06:19,920 Similarly, what subcontracts are impacted by trauma? 94 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:25,665 What units of analysis identify factors related to resiliency to trauma? 95 00:06:25,665 --> 00:06:30,135 There are so many questions in the field of mental illness research. 96 00:06:30,135 --> 00:06:34,350 We're really excited to see what answers the research domain criteria framework 97 00:06:34,350 --> 00:06:39,700 can help address and what new questions are opened up from there.