The neural underpinnings of defensive behaviour have implications for both basic research and clinical translation. This review systematically collates published research on neural response during simple avoidance of threat and approach-avoidance behaviour during goal-conflicting situations and presents an exploratory meta-analysis of available whole-brain data. Scopus, PsychInfo and Web of Science databases were searched for the period up to March 2018. 1348 simple avoidance and 1910 goal-conflict publications were initially identified; following review, 8 simple avoidance and 11 goal-conflict studies were included, with 5 datasets used in a preliminary meta-analysis. A move from forebrain-to-midbrain activation as threat becomes more pertinent was noted, indicating support for the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of behaviour and general compatibility with animal work. However, these findings were not reflected in the subsequent preliminary meta-analysis. This review highlights the considerable heterogeneity in currently available defensive behaviour paradigms and the lack of research in clinically relevant populations.

防御行为的神经基础对基础研究和临床翻译都有影响。这篇综述系统地整理了已发表的关于在目标冲突情况下简单避免威胁和避免方法行为中的神经反应的研究，并对现有的全脑数据进行了探索性的荟萃分析。搜索了Scopus，PsychInfo和Web of Science数据库，直到2018年3月为止。最初确定了1348个简单回避和1910个目标冲突出版物；经过审查，纳入了8个简单回避和11个目标冲突研究，初步的荟萃分析中使用了5个数据集。随着威胁变得越来越重要，人们注意到了从前脑激活到中脑激活的转变，表示支持行为的“增强敏感度”理论以及与动物工作的一般相容性。但是，这些发现未反映在随后的初步荟萃分析中。这篇综述强调了当前可用的防御行为范例中的相当多的异质性，以及缺乏临床相关人群的研究。