The Tap-To-Safety Task: A Probe for Repetitive Threat-Neutralization Behavior

Threat-related behaviors are highly relevant to anxiety-related and obsessive-compulsive disorders. However, many such behaviors are not well-modeled by existing experimental paradigms. Here, we describe and provide initial validation for a novel paradigm, termed the Tap-To-Safety Task, designed to elicit repetitive threat-neutralization (RTN) behavior during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Stimuli included a threat-cue (CS+) paired with shock, safety-cues (CS-) never paired with shock, and generalization stimuli (GSs) forming a continuum of similarity between CS+ and CS-, also never paired with shock. During an extinction phase, the CS+ was no longer paired with shock. On choice trials, participants could tap a button repeatedly to gain protection from shock (i.e., RTN) while relinquishing reward points. Adult participants (n=49) demonstrated increased threat-expectancy, anxiety, and RTN behavior to the threat-cue (ps<.001, ηp2>.42) which generalized across safe stimuli resembling the threat-cue (ps<.001, ηp2>.42). During extinction, risk and anxiety ratings gradually decreased (ps<.015, ηp2>.01), whereas RTN behavior persisted. Greater trial-wise RTN behavior was associated with lower post-RTN threat-expectancy and anxiety ratings (ps<.005, ηp2>.11). These results support the use of the Tap-To-Safety Task in eliciting repetitive threat-neutralization behavior. Future research is warranted to examine the clinical relevance of the task.