Prefrontal correlates of approach preferences for alcohol stimuli in alcohol dependence.

An approach bias for alcohol stimuli (i.e. faster approach than avoidance reactions) might facilitate relapses in alcohol dependence.

Prefrontal activation patterns of automatic and regulated approach-avoidance reactions - a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study.

Introduction: The present pilot study investigated cortical processes during automatic and regulated approach-avoidance reactions for the first time. METHODS 1: In 15 healthy volunteers, prefrontal activity was measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during performance of a joystick version of the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT). In experiment 1, participants approached (pulled towards their body) and avoided (pushed away from their body) positive and negative pictures.