Defensive Threat Responses

In this program we assess the neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in defensive stress reactions. In one line of inquiry we assess cardiac and bodily responses to threat using a stabilometric balance platform combined with EEG to assess the shift from freeze to active fight-flight in humans with optimal temporal precision (Hannah Nierman, Jacobien van Peer). Another series of fMRI studies focuses on the role of the periaqueductal gray in freeze reactions (Maria Lojowska; Erno Hermans). Finally, the large NWO funded VICI project “Police In-action” explores the role of freeze-fight-flight reactions in stress-vulnerability and resilience in policemen (Mahur Hashemi, Wei Zhang, Reinoud Kaldeway, Saskia Koch and Floris Klumpers.