Freeze-flight in DBS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the freeze-flight response in Deep Brain Stimulation patients
IRAS ID
226173
Contact name
Alexander Green
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, days
Research summary
It is well documented in animal literature that heart rate slows briefly as part of a fearful 'freeze-flight' tactic. The areas of the brain involved in this are known to include the PAG (periaqueductal grey area) and ACC (anterior cingulate cortex). There is a group of patients who have electrodes implanted in these areas (for chronic pain), found on the Neurosurgical department Clinical Database at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Patients with electrodes implanted in areas not thought to be involved in 'freeze-flight' (i.e. patients with movement disorder) will be used as controls. Patients (approx. 18 chronic pain and 10 control) will engage in validated fear conditioning tasks (taking approximately 3 hours on one day; location- John Radcliffe Hospital Neurosciences Outpatients), whilst we monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance, to see if this alters when patients have their electrodes switched on vs off. The study of the freeze-flight response in humans promises insight into specific autonomic conditions, for example, ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG) stimulation can be manipulated to control blood pressure. Additionally, on a broader scale, it has implications for stress-related psychopathologies, e.g. anxiety is associated with persistent freeze-flight tendencies. The study is funded by Academic Foundation Programme, for which Dr Sarah Farrell is a recipient.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0170
Date of REC Opinion
1 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion