WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.840 NEURON MENA: Hi, this is Neuron Mena from NAMI Montana. 00:00:03.840 --> 00:00:06.600 I want to speak to you for a few minutes today about 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.750 an important development in mental illness research. 00:00:09.750 --> 00:00:16.230 The National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria, or RDoC. 00:00:16.230 --> 00:00:21.540 RDoC grew out of an agency's goal to develop new ways of classifying 00:00:21.540 --> 00:00:27.360 mental disorders based on behavioral dimensions and neural biological measures. 00:00:27.360 --> 00:00:30.930 In the opinion of this humble neuron, 00:00:30.930 --> 00:00:34.560 it's a great effort because the interactions of 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:41.575 over a hundred billion neurons in the brain are incredibly hard to understand. 00:00:41.575 --> 00:00:44.860 The need for a more systematic framework to tie 00:00:44.860 --> 00:00:47.890 together this research has only become clear 00:00:47.890 --> 00:00:50.050 as the technology is capable of adding 00:00:50.050 --> 00:00:54.340 valuable information about brain function has increased. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:58.690 For instance, it's going to take a clear research framework to 00:00:58.690 --> 00:01:03.775 ensure that the information gathered through combinations of psychological surveys, 00:01:03.775 --> 00:01:08.050 fMRI brain scans, EEG recordings, 00:01:08.050 --> 00:01:14.320 genetic testing, blood work and other tools clarifies our understanding of the brain 00:01:14.320 --> 00:01:19.805 rather than making things murkier by piling on seemingly unconnected data. 00:01:19.805 --> 00:01:23.175 Here is the RDoC matrix. 00:01:23.175 --> 00:01:29.740 The domain's constructs and sub-constructs are on the left side of the matrix. 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:32.035 We'll get into those in more detail. 00:01:32.035 --> 00:01:34.360 But in absolute layman's terms, 00:01:34.360 --> 00:01:37.480 these are characteristics of brain functioning, 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:40.375 such as how our brain responds to fear. 00:01:40.375 --> 00:01:42.385 How our brain responds to threat? 00:01:42.385 --> 00:01:44.890 How do you visually perceive images? 00:01:44.890 --> 00:01:48.255 How are your sleep cycles, etc? 00:01:48.255 --> 00:01:52.415 The top of the graph is composed of the units of measure. 00:01:52.415 --> 00:01:56.975 In layman's terms, these are different ways that you can measure brain function. 00:01:56.975 --> 00:02:02.690 For instance, researchers may use psychological self-report surveys, genetics, 00:02:02.690 --> 00:02:05.780 brain circuits shown in fMRI scans, 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:09.395 descriptions of the specific kinds of cells involved, 00:02:09.395 --> 00:02:13.000 molecules that may function as neurotransmitters. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.420 We'll go back to the broad view of our RDoC matrix in a second 00:02:17.420 --> 00:02:19.460 but I think it helps to start with 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:24.215 the analysis of a very specific brain function characteristics. 00:02:24.215 --> 00:02:29.045 Specifically, how does a person respond to acute fear? 00:02:29.045 --> 00:02:35.100 Start by going to NIMH's web page for the Research Domain Criteria Matrix. 00:02:35.100 --> 00:02:38.730 Then click on the acute threat fear link. 00:02:38.730 --> 00:02:41.580 That link will open up and shows a number of different units 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:45.060 of analysis for research in acute threat fear. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:49.575 Some of the units of analysis for acute threat study include 00:02:49.575 --> 00:02:55.495 genes such as BDNF and 5-HT/5-HTRs, 00:02:55.495 --> 00:02:59.405 molecules such as dopamine and serotonin, 00:02:59.405 --> 00:03:03.395 cells like neurons, glia, and pyramidal cells, 00:03:03.395 --> 00:03:06.050 circuits such as central nucleus. 00:03:06.050 --> 00:03:10.505 Physiological characteristics like skin conductance and heart rate. 00:03:10.505 --> 00:03:14.675 Behavioral characteristics such as freezing and response time. 00:03:14.675 --> 00:03:18.020 Psychological self-report surveys such as the 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:21.605 fear survey schedule and fear questionnaire, 00:03:21.605 --> 00:03:26.615 and psychological paradigms like fear conditioning. 00:03:26.615 --> 00:03:30.260 This framework provides a comprehensive breakdown of 00:03:30.260 --> 00:03:34.580 the methods and measures to analyze acute threat. 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:37.610 The units of analysis can eliminate 00:03:37.610 --> 00:03:41.645 potential connections between brain function characteristics. 00:03:41.645 --> 00:03:45.050 The list of the units of analysis can also help identify 00:03:45.050 --> 00:03:48.710 brain function characteristics that have significant research gaps. 00:03:48.710 --> 00:03:52.430 For instance, clearly, language doesn't happen 00:03:52.430 --> 00:03:56.780 without molecules acting as neurotransmitters and cell transmitting information. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:01.625 There's a likely need to reevaluate prior research or conduct 00:04:01.625 --> 00:04:04.190 new research to better understand those units of 00:04:04.190 --> 00:04:07.270 analysis for this brain function characteristic. 00:04:07.270 --> 00:04:11.160 Now, they've given you a little depth on units of analysis, 00:04:11.160 --> 00:04:12.840 let's look harder at the other side of 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.830 the graph and the brain function characteristics being mentioned. 00:04:16.830 --> 00:04:19.590 NIMH describes the rows as 00:04:19.590 --> 00:04:25.635 specific functional constructs representing a specific function dimension of behavior. 00:04:25.635 --> 00:04:28.290 Those constructs that are grouped into domains 00:04:28.290 --> 00:04:30.870 based upon the current understanding of emotion, 00:04:30.870 --> 00:04:34.050 cognition, motivation, and social behavior. 00:04:34.050 --> 00:04:38.485 There are currently five domains in the RDoC matrix. 00:04:38.485 --> 00:04:43.925 The five domains are negative valence systems, positive valence systems, 00:04:43.925 --> 00:04:52.100 cognitive systems, systems for social processes and the arousal of regulatory system. 00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:57.900 The negative valence systems are the system primarily responsible for 00:04:57.900 --> 00:05:04.095 responses to aversive situations or contexts such as fear, anxiety, and loss. 00:05:04.095 --> 00:05:09.480 The positive valence systems are the systems primarily responsible for responses to 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:14.670 positively motivational situations or contexts such as reward seeking, 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:19.710 conservatory behavior, and reward or habit learning. 00:05:19.710 --> 00:05:26.065 The cognitive systems are the systems responsible for various cognitive processes. 00:05:26.065 --> 00:05:29.720 The systems for social processes are the systems that 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:33.635 mediate responses to interpersonal settings of various types, 00:05:33.635 --> 00:05:38.825 including perception and interpretation of others' actions. 00:05:38.825 --> 00:05:42.230 The arousal regulatory systems are the systems 00:05:42.230 --> 00:05:46.040 responsible for generating activation of neural systems as 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.490 appropriate for various contexts and providing 00:05:49.490 --> 00:05:53.705 the appropriate homeostatic regulation of such systems as energy, 00:05:53.705 --> 00:05:55.700 balance, and sleep. 00:05:55.700 --> 00:05:59.090 Once you've got a basic understanding of the RDoC matrix, 00:05:59.090 --> 00:06:01.670 it's easy to see how it opens up the door for 00:06:01.670 --> 00:06:05.195 really cool multi-dimensional brain research. 00:06:05.195 --> 00:06:10.070 For instance, how many sub-constructs are impacted by 00:06:10.070 --> 00:06:15.685 a deficiency in a specific molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter? 00:06:15.685 --> 00:06:19.920 Similarly, what subcontracts are impacted by trauma? 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:25.665 What units of analysis identify factors related to resiliency to trauma? 00:06:25.665 --> 00:06:30.135 There are so many questions in the field of mental illness research. 00:06:30.135 --> 00:06:34.350 We're really excited to see what answers the research domain criteria framework 00:06:34.350 --> 00:06:39.700 can help address and what new questions are opened up from there.