Autumn Kujawa
Vanderbilt University
“Translating Affective Neuroscience to Intervention:
The Role of Positive Valence Systems Function in the Development and Treatment of Depression”
Depression is commonly characterized by low activation of the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) positive valence systems, which encompasses brain and behavioral responses driving motivation and responses to rewards. Yet, established interventions have less of an effect on enhancing positive valence systems function as they do on reducing negative emotions. I will present a series of studies using multiple methods, with a focus on event-related potentials (ERPs), to examine alterations in positive valence systems function that precede the development of depression. Together, this work suggests that low reward responsiveness reflects an early-emerging vulnerability for depression, and it is critical to consider interactions between positive valence systems and social contexts. Next, I will present a study examining reward responsiveness as a predictor of treatment response in adolescents with depression and a proof-of-concept study aimed at testing the modifiability of reward responses at the neural level. Finally, I will highlight an approach to bridge the gap between neuroscience and clinical practice by developing a novel preventive intervention for children of mothers with depression aimed at directly targeting child positive valence systems function to reduce depression risk. I will end with future directions of this work, including efforts to chart multimethod trajectories of positive valence systems function across critical developmental periods, with the goal of informing personalized prevention and early intervention efforts to reduce the burden of depression on youth and families.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
11:00am – 12:00pm
490 Gilmer Academic Commons