GAROFALO Sara's profile
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GAROFALO SaraORCID_LOGO

  • Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
  • Life Sciences, Social sciences
  • recommender

Recommendation:  1

Reviews:  0

Website https://sites.google.com/view/saragarofalo/me-in-a-nutshell
Areas of expertise
I am a Psychometrician with a specific expertise in the analysis of neuropsysiological measures. I am particularly interested in the use of advanced inferential statistical models (e.g. bayesian inference, informative hypothesis, estimation, computational modelling, metanalysis) that can empower hypothesis testing, within the current debate about open science, the replicability crisis, and the diffusion of best practices. My main field of research concerns the neural basis of reinforcement learning, particularly how our brains respond to external cues that, once associated with rewards and punishments, can influence our daily choices in adaptive and maladaptive (e.g., compulsion, addiction) ways. As a science communicator, I write books, articles, and create videos for many national and international media. I also organize and participate to public meetings with citizens mainly focused on the psychological mechanisms behind (apparently) irrational choices and on the way in which media develop a relationship with our brain.

Recommendation:  1

12 Jul 2024
STAGE 1

Associations between anxiety-related traits and fear acquisition and extinction - an item-based content and meta-analysis

Maria Bruntsch, Samuel E Cooper, Rany Abend, Marian Boor, Anastasia Chalkia, Mana Ehlers, Artur Czeszumski, Dave Johnson, Maren Klingelhöfer-Jens, Jayne Morriss, Erik Mueller, Ondrej Zika, Tina Lonsdorf https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/unx7w

Integrative meta-analysis of anxiety-related traits and fear processing: bridging research to clinical application

Recommended by based on reviews by Yoann Stussi, Luigi Degni, Marco Badioli and 1 anonymous reviewer
The paper aims to bridge gaps in understanding the relationship between anxiety-related traits and fear processing, with a specific focus on fear acquisition and extinction. Fear and safety processing are known to be linked to anxiety symptoms and traits such as neuroticism and intolerance of uncertainty (Lonsdorf et al., 2017; Morriss et al., 2021). However, the diversity in study focus and measurement methods makes it difficult to integrate findings into clinical practice effectively.
 
To address this issue, Brunsch et al. (2024) propose a systematic literature search and meta-analysis, following PRISMA guidelines, to explore these associations. They plan to use nested random effects models to analyze both psychophysiological and self-report outcome measures. Additionally, they will examine the role of different questionnaires used to assess anxiety-related traits and conduct a content analysis of these tools to evaluate trait overlaps.
 
Current knowledge from the literature indicates that individuals with anxiety disorders exhibit differences in fear acquisition and extinction compared to those without such disorders (Lonsdorf et al., 2017; Morriss et al., 2021). Previous meta-analyses have shown associations between anxiety traits and fear generalization/extinction, but these studies are limited in their scope and focus.
 
The primary aim of the research is to provide a comprehensive summary of the associations between anxiety-related traits and conditioned responding during fear acquisition and extinction across multiple measures. Another goal is to investigate whether different anxiety-related trait questionnaires yield different associations with fear and extinction learning. The authors will also conduct a content analysis to better interpret the results of their meta-analysis by examining the overlap in questionnaire content.
 
A secondary aim of the study is to evaluate how sample characteristics, experimental specifics, and study quality influence the associations between anxiety-related traits and fear acquisition and extinction. By addressing these aims, the study seeks to advance the understanding of fear-related processes in anxiety and inform more targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
 
The Stage 1 manuscript underwent two rounds of thorough review. After considering the detailed responses to the reviewers' comments, the recommender determined that the manuscript met the Stage 1 criteria and granted in-principle acceptance (IPA).
 
URL to the preregistered Stage 1 protocol: https://osf.io/4mndj
 
Level of bias control achieved: Level 3. At least some data/evidence that will be used to the answer the research question has been previously accessed by the authors (e.g. downloaded or otherwise received), but the authors certify that they have not yet observed ANY part of the data/evidence.
 
List of eligible PCI RR-friendly journals:
 
 
References
 
1. Bruntsch, M., Abend, R., Chalkia, A., Cooper, S. E., Ehlers, M. R., Johnson, D. C., Klingelhöfer-Jens, M., Morriss, J., Zika, O., & Lonsdorf, T. B. (2024). Associations between anxiety-related traits and fear acquisition and extinction - an item-based content and meta-analysis. In principle acceptance of Version 3 by Peer Community in Registered Reports. https://osf.io/4mndj
 
2. Lonsdorf, T. B., & Merz, C. J. (2017). More than just noise: Inter-individual differences in fear acquisition, extinction and return of fear in humans - Biological, experiential, temperamental factors, and methodological pitfalls. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 80, 703–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.007
 
3. Morriss, J., Wake, S., Elizabeth, C., & van Reekum, C. M. (2021). I Doubt It Is Safe: A Meta-analysis of Self-reported Intolerance of Uncertainty and Threat Extinction Training. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 1, 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.05.011
avatar

GAROFALO SaraORCID_LOGO

  • Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
  • Life Sciences, Social sciences
  • recommender

Recommendation:  1

Reviews:  0

Website https://sites.google.com/view/saragarofalo/me-in-a-nutshell
Areas of expertise
I am a Psychometrician with a specific expertise in the analysis of neuropsysiological measures. I am particularly interested in the use of advanced inferential statistical models (e.g. bayesian inference, informative hypothesis, estimation, computational modelling, metanalysis) that can empower hypothesis testing, within the current debate about open science, the replicability crisis, and the diffusion of best practices. My main field of research concerns the neural basis of reinforcement learning, particularly how our brains respond to external cues that, once associated with rewards and punishments, can influence our daily choices in adaptive and maladaptive (e.g., compulsion, addiction) ways. As a science communicator, I write books, articles, and create videos for many national and international media. I also organize and participate to public meetings with citizens mainly focused on the psychological mechanisms behind (apparently) irrational choices and on the way in which media develop a relationship with our brain.