Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST)

Background

The Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST) is a specialized, computerized neuroimaging protocol designed to induce moderate psychosocial stress in a functional imaging environment (fMRI or PET scans). It combines difficult mental arithmetic under time pressure with negative performance evaluations to study how the brain processes stress. The MIST was developed at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and published by Katarina Dedovic and colleagues in 2005.

The MIST compares participants' stress reaction to performing arithmetic problems of varying difficulty under three conditions: an Experimental condition, a Control condition, and during a Rest condition (which does not actually present any problems to solve). During the Control and Experimental condition, participants are asked to work on arithmetic problems (e.g. '9 + 3 - 7') under time pressure. In the Experimental condition, but not in the Control condition, participants see a visual comparison of their performance with the (fake) much better performance of other people. In addition, response timeouts get continuously updated based on performance.

The Millisecond MIST is is developed with mouse button input which is more accessible in imaging environments than keyboard or touch input. The script currently does not contain any port code which must be added in order to communicate with the respective imaging equipment. Signals to external devices can either be send as LSL (Lab Streaming Layer) signals or through a parallel port connection.

Task Procedure

The design of the Millisecond MIST runs a 3 condition (Experimental, Control, Rest) x 5 difficulty levels design, tested within participants. The order of the three conditions is counterbalanced across participants. Each condition is run for 10 minutes. The control and experimental condition run the five arithmetic difficulty levels in a blocked fashion with the order of the levels being randomly determined. Each block runs for 2 minutes. During each block, randomly selected problems from the respective difficulty level are presented for a specific time. A visible timer counts down the seconds. Responses have to be entered via a circular response dial that is operated by mouse button click. The left and right mouse buttons move the dial in a clock- and counterclockwise way, respectively. Performance feedback is provided for each response for 500ms. Response timeout times during the control condition are based on mean response times measured during a training session. Response timeouts during the experimental condition are continuously updated up and down depending on performance. During the experimental condition, participants also see a visual performance feedback bar that relates their own performance unfavorably to the (fake) performance of other participants. No problems are solved during the rest time.

After learning about the task, participants start the session with a training session during which they get familiarized with each of the five difficulty levels of the arithmetic problems. Their average (uncorrected) response times for each level during the training is taken as the timeout duration for each level of difficulty during the test. The training session can be administered outside the imaging equipment.

What it Measures

The Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST) is a computerized tool to induce psychosocial stress.

Psychological domains

• Working Memory & Attention: Required to solve complex, multi-step mental arithmetic under extreme time pressure.
• Decision-Making: The need to submit answers while managing the distraction of negative feedback.
• Stress: psychological and physiological responses in a challenging situation
• Social Comparison: Comparing one's own performance to one's peer group

Main Performance Metrics

• RRS Score: Sum of individual responses, ranges from 22-88 (or 10-40 for the short version). Higher scores indicate a higher rumination response style.

Psychiatric Conditions

The MIST is being used to look at stress responses in the following patient groups:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Bipolar Disorder (BD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety Disorders
• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

References

Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST).

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Dedovic, K.; Renwick, R,; Khalili Mahani, N.; Engert, V.; Lupien, S.J. & Pruessner, J.C. (2005). The Montreal Imaging Stress Task: using functional imaging to investigate the effects of perceiving and processing psychosocial stress in the human brain. J Psychiatry Neurosci, 30, 319-325.

Investigators at Tel-Aviv University Target Psychosocial (Acute psychosocial stress reduces pain modulation capabilities in healthy men). (2015). Health & Medicine Week, 501.

Janka, Adler, Fischer, Perakakis, Guerra, & Duschek. (2015). Stress in crisis managers: Evidence from self-report and psychophysiological assessments. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 38(6), 970-983.

Chung, K., Peisen, F., Kogler, L., Radke, S., Turetsky, B., Freiherr, J., & Derntl, B. (2016). The Influence of Menstrual Cycle and Androstadienone on Female Stress Reactions: An fMRI Study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2016, Vol.10.