Table 1.
Cross-species anxiety tests and their potential application.
| Test (references: studies considered) | Cross-species translation | Translational application | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Predictive validity | Face validity | Drug-screening test | Diagnostic test | |
| Elevated plus maze (EPM) [76] | Lorazepam |
Procedure: yes Behaviour: yes Physiology: N/A |
GABAergic drugs, potentially anxiogenic drugs | Potentially (effects of anxiogenic substances, sex differences) |
| Open field test [81, 84, 86] | N/A |
Procedure: yes Behaviour: yes Physiology: N/A |
N/A |
Potentially (differentiating clinical groups) No consistent relation to self-reported anxiety across samples |
| Operant conflict tests: AAC decision test [27, 57, 94, 95] | N/A |
Procedure: partly Behaviour: partly Physiology: AAC fMRI signal in conflict > non-conflict trials (by comparison with a macaque version [27] that is itself validated with diazepam [24]) |
N/A | Potentially (sex differences) |
| Operant conflict test: AAC scoop & run test [18, 33, 39, 40] | HC lesions (by comparison with other approach-avoidance conflict tests) |
Procedure: partly Behaviour: partly Physiology: HC gamma oscillations and theta HC-PFC synchronisation (by comparison with other approach-avoidance conflict tests) |
N/A | Potentially |
| Mixed open field/operant conflict test: AAC stay & play test [11, 17, 58, 96] | GABAergic drugs (lorazepam, pregabalin, valproate), HC lesions (by comparison with other approach-avoidance conflict tests) |
Procedure: partly Behaviour: partly Physiology: N/A |
GABAergic drugs | Potentially (stable individual differences in behavioural disposition. No relation to self-reported anxiety in large sample |
| Unpredictable shock anticipation (NPU test) [107–111, 113–117] | Alprazolam |
Procedure: yes Behaviour: yes Physiology: N/A |
GABAergic drugs, SSRIs | Yes (distinguishes PTSD, SAD, SP, PD from HC, GAD, MDD, relates to symptom severity in trauma-exposed people) |
| Social intrusion test [118–126] | N/A |
Procedure: yes Behaviour: yes Physiology: N/A |
N/A | Yes (stable individual differences, heritability, risk factor for anxiety disorders) |
Cross-species translation: predictive validity of anxiolytic procedures, and face validity of the test, with respect to the underlying animal model. Translation application: suitability as a drug-screening test, or as a diagnostic/psychometric test.
N/A no data available.