Title : Investigating how threat affects learning in individuals with subclinical OCD-traits, using virtual reality
Abstract:
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is characterised by a continuum of traits – the most significant being compulsive behaviour. Compulsions are actions an individual feels compelled to perform in order to prevent a threat to themselves or others. We designed a novel task that replicates these behaviours to investigate what aberrant learning mechanisms may underlie subclinical OCD-traits. Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) refers to the influence of previously learned pavlovian stimuli on instrumental action and is used to assess the motivational influences of reward-related cues on behaviour. Although mostly studied in animals, PIT can be studied in humans, with most procedures using appetitive/ positive reinforcement. PIT has previously been correlated with self-reported trait depression and anxiety and has been associated with obsessive compulsive disorder in rodents. To expand the research on PIT in the field of OCD, we are the first to conduct PIT in the context of negative reinforcement and in virtual reality. Participants learned to associate an instrumental action with specific image cues to obtain pills containing a cure following a zombie bite, and the transfer of this learning to unpaired cues was also assessed. This task mirrors the ‘threat avoidance’ behaviour that often contextualises subclinical-OCD behaviours.
In our study, we: (i) compared appetitively and aversively motivated PIT tasks performance in humans; (ii) investigated whether PIT performance correlates with contamination fears, compulsivity, depression, stress, anxiety and impulsivity and; (iii) assessed whether inducing an aversive state through virtual reality exposure to stressful contexts modulates PIT performance supported by negative reinforcement. 40 participants were randomly assigned to an appetitive or aversive PIT, and both produced similar levels of specific and general PIT. Performance on the aversive but not appetitive version of the task correlated with self-reported checking and harmful thoughts. Preliminary analyses of the impact of exposure to stressful contexts on aversive PIT shows that PIT effects can be modulated by a context-relevant stressor. This research supports the relevance of aversive PIT to compulsivity and illustrates the utility of virtual reality methodology in providing suitably immersive experimental context for obtaining potentially useful clinical biomarkers.
Audience Takeaway Notes:
- Application of Virtual Reality in Experimental Psychology: Our study was in conjunction with BAFTA award winning game studio Ninja Theory, who designed threat-inducing VR scenarios to use in our study.
- VR allowed us to induce an immersive environment for studying behaviour – this significant methodological advancement can be applied to future experimental designs, making them more realistic and contextually relevant. Educators can also adopt VR in teaching to simulate complex conditions or scenarios for a more immersive learning experience.
- Identification of Clinical Biomarkers for OCD: Our findings suggest that particular learning behaviours in response to aversive PIT may serve as a useful clinical biomarker for compulsivity and related OCD traits. This can guide future research towards identifying and validating other biomarkers in psychiatric conditions. Our research suggests that those with subclinical OCD-traits tended to show decreased general transfer of learning. This suggests a narrowed focus of attention towards a definitive cue-action reward association that limits their ability to generalise and perform actions to an unpaired cue. These findings identify potential biomarkers that clinicians and researchers can use to develop targeted interventions or assessments for OCD and related disorders.
- Understanding the Role of Contextual Stressors in Behavioural Responses: Our study highlights how exposure to stress-inducing contexts in virtual reality can modulate Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer performance, particularly in the aversive condition. This finding underscores the importance of context in understanding how stress and environmental factors influence learning and behaviour. Researchers can explore similar stressor effects in other psychological disorders, potentially uncovering new pathways for intervention.
