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NIMHDevelopmentandDefinitionsoftheRDoCDomainsandConstructs

TheNationalInstituteofMentalHealth:www.nimh.nih.gov

DevelopmentandDefinitionsoftheRDoCDomainsandConstructs
TheRDoCframeworkconsistsofamatrixwheretherowsrepresentspecifiedfunctionalconstructs
(conceptsrepresentingaspecifiedfunctionaldimensionofbehavior)characterizedinaggregatebythe
genes,molecules,circuits,etc.usedtomeasureit.Constructsareinturngroupedintohigherleveldomains
offunctioning,reflectingcontemporaryknowledgeaboutmajorsystemsofemotion,cognition,motivation,
andsocialbehavior.Currently,therearefiveDomainsintheRDoCmatrix.Thedefinitionsofthese
domains,constructsandsubconstructs(summarizedfromtheworkshoponeachdomain)areprovidedhere:
NegativeValenceSystems:Systemsprimarilyresponsibleforresponsestoaversivesituationsor
context,suchasfear,anxiety,andloss.
Responsestoacutethreat(Fear):Activationofthebrainsdefensivemotivationalsystemto
promotebehaviorsthatprotecttheorganismfromperceiveddanger.Normalfearinvolvesa
patternofadaptiveresponsestoconditionedorunconditionedthreatstimuli(exteroceptiveor
interoceptive).Fearcaninvolveinternalrepresentationsandcognitiveprocessing,andcanbe
modulatedbyavarietyoffactors.
Responsestopotentialharm(Anxiety):Activationofabrainsysteminwhichharmmay
potentiallyoccurbutisdistant,ambiguous,orlow/uncertaininprobability,characterizedbya
patternofresponsessuchasenhancedriskassessment(vigilance).Theseresponsestolow
imminencethreatsarequalitativelydifferentthanthehighimminencethreatbehaviorsthat
characterizefear.
Responsestosustainedthreat:Anaversiveemotionalstatecausedbyprolonged(i.e.,weeksto
months)exposuretointernaland/orexternalcondition(s),state(s),orstimulithatareadaptiveto
escapeoravoid.Theexposuremaybeactualoranticipatedthechangesinaffect,cognition,
physiology,andbehaviorcausedbysustainedthreatpersistintheabsenceofthethreat,andcan
bedifferentiatedfromthosechangesevokedbyacutethreat.
Frustrativenonreward:Reactionselicitedinresponsetowithdrawal/preventionofreward,i.e.,
bytheinabilitytoobtainpositiverewardsfollowingrepeatedorsustainedefforts.
Loss:Astateofdeprivationofamotivationallysignificantconspecific,object,orsituation.
Lossmaybesocialornonsocialandmayincludepermanentorsustainedlossofshelter,
behavioralcontrol,status,lovedones,orrelationships.Theresponsetolossmaybeepisodic
(e.g.,grief)orsustained.
PositiveValenceSystems:Systemsprimarilyresponsibleforresponsestopositivemotivational
situationsorcontexts,suchasrewardseeking,consummatorybehavior,andreward/habitlearning.
Approachmotivation:Amultifacetedconstructinvolvingmechanisms/processesthatregulate
thedirectionandmaintenanceofapproachbehaviorinfluencedbypreexistingtendencies,
learning,memory,stimuluscharacteristics,anddeprivationstates.Approachbehaviorcanbe
directedtowardinnateoracquiredcues(i.e.,unconditionedvs.learnedstimuli),implicitor
explicitgoalsitcanconsistofgoaldirectedorPavlovianconditionedresponses.Component
processesincluderewardvaluation,effortvaluation/willingnesstowork,expectancy/reward
predictionerror,andactionselection/decisionmaking.
Rewardvaluation:Processesbywhichtheprobabilityandbenefitsofaprospective
outcomearecomputedandcalibratedbyreferencetoexternalinformation,socialcontext
(e.g.,groupinput,counterfactualcomparisons),and/orpriorexperience.Thiscalibration
isinfluencedbypreexistingbiases,learning,memory,stimuluscharacteristics,and
deprivationstates.Rewardvaluationmayinvolvetheassignmentofincentivesalienceto
stimuli.
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Effortvaluation/Willingnesstowork:Processesbywhichthecost(s)ofobtainingan
outcomeiscomputedtendencytoovercomeresponsecoststoobtainareinforcer.
Expectancy/Rewardpredictionerror:Astatetriggeredbyexposuretointernalorexternal
stimuli,experiencesorcontextsthatpredictthepossibilityofreward.Rewardexpectation
canaltertheexperienceofanoutcomeandcaninfluencetheuseofresources(e.g.,
cognitiveresources).
Actionselection/Preferencebaseddecisionmaking:Processesinvolvinganevaluationof
costs/benefitsandoccurringinthecontextofmultiplepotentialchoicesbeingavailable
fordecisionmaking.
Initialresponsivenesstorewardattainment:Mechanisms/processesassociatedwithhedonic
responsesasreflectedinsubjectiveexperiences,behavioralresponses,and/orengagementof
theneuralsystemstoapositivereinforcerandculminationofrewardseeking.
Sustained/Longertermresponsivenesstorewardattainment:Mechanisms/processesassociated
withtheterminationofrewardseeking,e.g.,satisfaction,satiation,regulationofconsummatory
behavior.
RewardLearning:Aprocessbywhichorganismsacquireinformationaboutstimuli,actions,
andcontextsthatpredictpositiveoutcomes,andbywhichbehaviorismodifiedwhenanovel
rewardoccursoroutcomesarebetterthanexpected.Rewardlearningisatypeofreinforcement
learning,andsimilarprocessesmaybeinvolvedinlearningrelatedtonegativereinforcement.
Habit:Sequential,repetitive,motor,orcognitivebehaviorselicitedbyexternalorinternal
triggersthat,onceinitiated,cangotocompletionwithoutconstantconsciousoversight.Habits
canbeadaptivebyvirtueoffreeingupcognitiveresources.Habitformationisafrequent
consequenceofrewardlearning,butitsexpressioncanbecomeresistanttochangesinoutcome
value.Relatedbehaviorscouldbepathologicalexpressionofaprocessthatundernormal
circumstancessubservesadaptivegoals.
CognitiveSystems:Systemsresponsibleforvariouscognitiveprocesses.
Attention:Attentionreferstoarangeofprocessesthatregulateaccesstocapacitylimited
systems,suchasawareness,higherperceptualprocesses,andmotoraction.Theconceptsof
capacitylimitationandcompetitionareinherenttotheconceptsofselectiveanddivided
attention.
Perception:Perceptionreferstotheprocess(es)thatperformcomputationsonsensorydatato
constructandtransformrepresentationsoftheexternalenvironment,acquireinformationfrom,
andmakepredictionsabout,theexternalworld,andguideaction.
DeclarativeMemory:Declarativememoryistheacquisitionorencoding,storageand
consolidation,andretrievalofrepresentationsoffactsandevents.Declarativememoryprovides
thecriticalsubstrateforrelationalrepresentationsi.e.,forspatial,temporal,andother
contextualrelationsamongitems,contributingtorepresentationsofevents(episodicmemory)
andtheintegrationandorganizationoffactualknowledge(semanticmemory).These
representationsfacilitatetheinferentialandflexibleextractionofnewinformationfromthese
relationships.
Language:Languageisasystemofsharedsymbolicrepresentationsoftheworld,theselfand
abstractconceptsthatsupportsthoughtandcommunication.
CognitiveControl:Asystemthatmodulatestheoperationofothercognitiveandemotional
systems,intheserviceofgoaldirectedbehavior,whenprepotentmodesofrespondingarenot
adequatetomeetthedemandsofthecurrentcontext.Additionally,controlprocessesare
engagedinthecaseofnovelcontexts,whereappropriateresponsesneedtobeselectedfrom
amongcompetingalternatives.
WorkingMemory:WorkingMemoryistheactivemaintenanceandflexibleupdatingof
goal/taskrelevantinformation(items,goals,strategies,etc.)inaformthathaslimitedcapacity
andresistsinterference.Theserepresentations:mayinvolveflexiblebindingofrepresentations
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maybecharacterizedbytheabsenceofexternalsupportfortheinternallymaintained
representationsandarefrequentlytemporary,thoughthismaybeduetoongoinginterference.
Itinvolvesactivemaintenance,flexibleupdating,limitedcapacity,andinterferencecontrol.For
furtherdetails,seeWorkingMemory:WorkshopProceedings(July1113,2010)at:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchfunding/rdoc/workingmemoryworkshopproceedings.shtml
SystemsforSocialProcesses:Systemsthatmediateresponsestointerpersonalsettingsofvarious
types,includingperceptionandinterpretationofothersactions.
AffiliationandAttachment:Affiliationisengagementinpositivesocialinteractionswithother
individuals.Attachmentisselectiveaffiliationasaconsequenceofthedevelopmentofasocial
bond.AffiliationandAttachmentaremoderatedbysocialinformationprocessing(processing
ofsocialcues)andsocialmotivation.Affiliationisabehavioralconsequenceofsocial
motivationandcanmanifestitselfinsocialapproachbehaviors.AffiliationandAttachment
requiredetectionofandattentiontosocialcues,aswellassociallearningandmemory
associatedwiththeformationofrelationships.AffiliationandAttachmentincludeboththe
positivephysiologicalconsequencesofsocialinteractionsandthebehavioralandphysiological
consequencesofdisruptionstosocialrelationships.Clinicalmanifestationsofdisruptionsin
AffiliationandAttachmentincludesocialwithdrawal,socialindifferenceandanhedonia,and
overattachment.
SocialCommunication:Adynamicprocessthatincludesbothreceptiveandproductiveaspects
usedforexchangeofsociallyrelevantinformation.Socialcommunicationisessentialforthe
integrationandmaintenanceoftheindividualinthesocialenvironment.Thisconstructis
reciprocalandinteractive,andsocialcommunicationabilitiesmayappearveryearlyinlife.
Socialcommunicationisdistinguishablefromothercognitivesystems(e.g.,perception,
cognitivecontrol,memory,attention)inthatitparticularlyinvolvesinteractionswith
conspecifics.Theunderlyingneuralsubstratesofsocialcommunicationevolvedtosupportboth
automatic/reflexiveandvolitionalcontrol,includingthemotivationandabilitytoengagein
socialcommunication.Receptiveaspectsmaybeimplicitorexplicitexamplesincludeaffect
recognition,facialrecognitionandcharacterization.Productiveaspectsincludeeyecontact,
expressivereciprocation,andgazefollowing.Althoughfacialcommunicationwassetasideasa
separatesubconstructforthepurposesofidentifyingmatrixelements,socialcommunication
typicallyutilizesinformationfromseveralmodalities,includingfacial,vocal,gestural,postural,
andolfactoryprocessing.SocialCommunicationwasorganizedintothefollowingsub
constructs:
ReceptionofFacialCommunication:Thecapacitytoperceivesomeonesemotionalstate
nonverballybasedonfacialexpressions.
ProductionofFacialCommunication:Thecapacitytoconveyonesemotionalstatenon
verballyviafacialexpression.
ReceptionofNonFacialCommunication:Thecapacitytoperceivesocialandemotional
informationbasedonmodalitiesotherthanfacialexpression,includingnonverbal
gestures,affectiveprosody,distresscalling,cooing,etc.
ProductionofNonFacialCommunication:Thecapacitytoexpresssocialandemotional
informationbasedonmodalitiesotherthanfacialexpression,includingnonverbal
gestures,affectiveprosody,distresscalling,cooing,etc.
PerceptionandUnderstandingofSelf:Theprocessesand/orrepresentationsinvolvedinbeing
awareof,accessingknowledgeabout,and/ormakingjudgmentsabouttheself.These
processes/representationscanincludecurrentcognitiveoremotionalinternalstates,traits,
and/orabilities,eitherinisolationorinrelationshiptoothers,aswellasthemechanismsthat
supportselfawareness,selfmonitoring,andselfknowledge.PerceptionandUnderstandingof
Selfwasorganizedintothefollowingsubconstructs:
Agency:Theabilitytorecognizeonesselfastheagentofonesactionsandthoughts,
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includingtherecognitionofonesownbody/bodyparts.
SelfKnowledge:Theabilitytomakejudgmentsaboutonescurrentcognitiveor
emotionalinternalstates,traits,and/orabilities.
PerceptionandUnderstandingofOthers:Theprocessesand/orrepresentationsinvolvedin
beingawareof,accessingknowledgeabout,reasoningabout,and/ormakingjudgmentsabout
otheranimateentities,includinginformationaboutcognitiveoremotionalstates,traitsor
abilities.PerceptionandUnderstandingofOtherswasorganizedintothefollowingsub
constructs:
AnimacyPerception:Theabilitytoappropriatelyperceivethatanotherentityisanagent
(i.e.,hasaface,interactscontingently,andexhibitsbiologicalmotion).
ActionPerception:Theabilitytoperceivethepurposeofanactionbeingperformedbyan
animateentity.
UnderstandingMentalStates:Theabilitytomakejudgmentsand/orattributionsaboutthe
mentalstateofotheranimateentitiesthatallowsonetopredictorinterprettheir
behaviors.Mentalstatereferstointentions,beliefs,desires,andemotions.
Arousal/RegulatorySystems:Systemsresponsibleforgeneratingactivationofneuralsystemsas
appropriateforvariouscontexts,andprovidingappropriatehomeostaticregulationofsuchsystemsas
energybalanceandsleep.
Arousal:Arousalisacontinuumofsensitivityoftheorganismtostimuli,bothexternalandinternal.
Arousal:
facilitatesinteractionwiththeenvironmentinacontextspecificmanner(e.g.,underconditions
ofthreat,somestimulimustbeignoredwhilesensitivitytoandresponsestoothersisenhanced,
asexemplifiedinthestartlereflex),
canbeevokedbyeitherexternal/environmentalstimuliorinternalstimuli(e.g.,emotionsand
cognition),
canbemodulatedbythephysicalcharacteristicsandmotivationalsignificanceofstimuli,
variesalongacontinuumthatcanbequantifiedinanybehavioralstate,includingwakefulness
andlowarousalstatesincludingsleep,anesthesia,andcoma,
isdistinctfrommotivationandvalencebutcancovarywithintensityofmotivationandvalence,
maybeassociatedwithincreasedordecreasedlocomotoractivity,and
canberegulatedbyhomeostaticdrives(e.g.,hunger,sleep,thirst,sex).
CircadianRhythms:CircadianRhythmsareendogenousselfsustainingoscillationsthatorganizethe
timingofbiologicalsystemstooptimizephysiologyandbehavior,andhealth.
CircadianRhythms:
aresynchronizedbyrecurringenvironmentalcues
anticipatetheexternalenvironment
alloweffectiveresponsetochallengesandopportunitiesinthephysicalandsocialenvironment
modulatehomeostasiswithinthebrainandother(central/peripheral)systems,tissuesand
organs
areevidentacrosslevelsoforganizationincludingmolecules,cells,circuits,systems,
organisms,andsocialsystems.
Sleepandwakefulness:Sleepandwakefulnessareendogenous,recurring,behavioralstatesthat
reflectcoordinatedchangesinthedynamicfunctionalorganizationofthebrainandthatoptimize
physiology,behavior,andhealth.Homeostaticandcircadianprocessesregulatethepropensityfor
wakefulnessandsleep.
Sleep:
isreversible,typicallycharacterizedbyposturalrecumbence,behavioralquiescence,and
reducedresponsiveness
hasacomplexarchitecturewithpredictablecyclingofNREM/REMstatesortheir
developmentalequivalents.NREMandREMsleephavedistinctneuralsubstrates(circuitry,
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transmitters,modulators)andEEGoscillatoryproperties
intensityanddurationisaffectedbyhomeostaticregulation
isaffectedbyexperiencesduringwakefulness
isevidentatcellular,circuit,andsystemlevels
hasrestorativeandtransformativeeffectsthatoptimizeneurobehavioralfunctionsduring
wakefulness
LearnmoreaboutthedevelopmentoftheRDoCmatrix(http://www.nimh.nih.gov//research
priorities/rdoc/developmentoftherdocframework.shtml).

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