HYPE: Assessing the central influence of hyperarousal in shaping trauma outcomes.

ongoing

Up to 70% of people will experience a traumatic event in their lives. Following such events, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) emerges as the most common adverse psychological consequence, affecting 10-15% of survivors. Despite available therapies, nearly 40% of patients continue to exhibit hyperarousal symptoms such as irritability, risk-taking behaviors, sleep disturbances, concentration difficulties, and an enhanced startle response. Several cognitive processes (e.g., attentional biases, emotion recognition, executive functioning) have been investigated to understand the mechanisms behind isolated hyperarousal symptoms, such as hypervigilance or startle responses. However, the exact nature and mechanisms through which these cognitive processes influence the whole spectrum of hyperarousal symptoms remain largely unknown. In response, the HYPE project aims to: (1) offer the first comprehensive evaluation of the cognitive processes underlying various hyperarousal symptoms, (2) examine the effects of gender and repeated traumatization on these processes, and (3) longitudinally assess the predictive value of these cognitive processes on the development and persistence of other PTSD symptoms. By utilizing eye-tracking (ET), electroencephalography (EEG) and machine learning techniques, these studies will provide precise and reliable assessments of these intricate cognitive processes and highlight new therapeutic targets with direct benefits for patients. While both the host-lab and myself are specialized in PTSD, the synergy between the host lab's expertise in EEG and affective neurosciences, and my knowledge of ET and advanced statistical methods, makes this ambitious project mutually beneficial. Complementarily, the training activities planned will not only improve my research skills but also my independence, mentoring, and communication abilities, preparing me for a young leader position able to transfer knowledge to both specialized and not-specialized audience.