RESEARCH
Welcome to the Social Affect and Behavior Integrative Neuroscience (SABIN) Lab at Auburn University! Broadly, our research examines how motivational processes and neural mechanisms contribute to social avoidance behavior, which is a transdiagnostic factor in psychopathology. Our lab uses an experimental psychopathology framework in conjunction with a translational neuroscience approach. In this program of research, we utilize a variety of methodologies including fMRI, EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and computational modelling. Ultimately, our goal is to develop personalized neuroscience-informed interventions for individuals who struggle with social avoidance.
Please see below for more information on our current research directions.
Neuromodulation To Improve Social Motivation Dysfunction in Internalizing Disorders
(NIMH K23 135222-01)
Social avoidance plays a critical role in the development, maintenance, and chronicity of internalizing disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, current treatments often fail to remediate social avoidance even when symptoms remit. Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative approaches that effectively target social avoidance.
To address this issue, we are conducting an NIMH-funded clinical trial that uses fMRI-guided, personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation to improve social motivation dysfunction in adults with MDD or SAD. The long-term goal of this project is to ultimately develop neuroscience-guided interventions that effectively treat social avoidance by remediating individual-specific neural circuit dysfunction.
Neurocomputational Modelling of Social Approach-Avoidance Decisions
Social behaviors like social avoidance are facilitated in part by approach-avoidance motivational system responses to facial expressions of others. In typical social situations (e.g., attending a gathering), facial expressions tend to be ambiguous in nature and often require rapid decision-making based on limited social information.
To better understand these processes, we developed and validated a novel social approach-avoidance conflict (SAAC) paradigm. Based on action selection and reaction times in the SAAC, we use computational modelling approaches such as drift diffusion modelling (DDM) to decompose the cognitive processes that contribute to approach vs. avoid decisions (e.g., initial hesitation vs. noisy evidence accumulation).
We are currently collecting EEG data with this paradigm (with plans to use fMRI as well) to better understand neurocomputational processes underlying social decision-making.
Mapping Social Motivation to Real-World Social Dynamics
Social interactions are dynamic processes that involve mutual exchanges of complex information, which is not captured by self-report measures of social behavior. Therefore, one of our aims is to better understand how social motivation contributes to real-world social dynamics between individuals. To this end, we are working to develop a protocol in which we can measure social motivation to an interaction partner's facial expressions prior to an experimental social interaction task with that partner. This will allow us to develop a more precise understanding of how dysregulated social motivation in psychopathology may disrupt social dynamics in real-world settings.
Effects of Social Exclusion on Social Motivation Processes
Interpersonal connections with others can be disrupted in multiple ways. Internally, individuals may choose to socially withdraw from others, which prevents social connections from being established or sustained. Externally, individuals may be rejected by others when attempting to establish a connection (i.e., social exclusion). Therefore, social withdrawal may emerge due to an interplay between internal decision-making processes and experiences of social exclusion by others.
The goal of this study is to examine how social exclusion shapes social motivation processes and how the interaction between these internal and external factors contributes to social withdrawal in daily life.
Developing Inclusive Social Motivation Assessment Tools
In social neuroscience research, many stimulus sets are not racially representative, which is exclusive towards those involved in the research process as well as not being ecologically valid. Moreover, utilizing non-representative stimulus sets may methodologically bias assessments of social motivation. To address this issue, we are working to develop and validate a more racially representative version of our Social Approach-Avoidance Paradigm (SAAP). Aligned with open access principles, we plan to share this paradigm and stimulus set with the wider research community. Additionally, we are also interested in using this improved paradigm to better understand the behavioral consequences of racial biases in core social motivation systems.
