Neuroscience 2003 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 663.6 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain responses to pictures evoking distinct, aversive emotions. |
| Authors: |
Wright, P.*1,2
; Liu, Y.1,2
; He, G.2
; Goodman, W. K.2
1Neurosci., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 2Psychiatry, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Motivation and Emotion |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Sensory Systems<br />- Vision<br />-- Visual cortex: Perception and action |
| Session: |
663. Motivation and Emotion: Cognition II Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 11, 2003 2:15 PM-2:15 PM |
| Location: | Morial Convention Center - Room 293 |
| Keywords: | FEAR, disgust, insula, fusiform gyrus |
Emotion can be described by both dimensional and categorical models, exemplified respectively by Peter Lang’s dimensions of valence, salience and arousal and by Paul Ekman’s six basic emotional expressions – happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, anger and disgust. Both models are supported by functional brain imaging. We previously reported increased activity of the anterior insula in response to images evoking disgust, but not to frightening images. Schienle et al. recently published contradictory data showing activation of the anterior insula by both disgust and fear. Since they included pictures of mutilations in their disgust category, we conducted the experiment using three categories: firstly, pictures of contaminants, secondly, pictures of mutilations and thirdly, pictures of imminent threat. The pictures were presented in three 3-minute runs, each consisting of alternating blocks of emotional and neutral pictures. MRI data were acquired using a 3T Siemens Allegra and analyzed using Brain Voyager (Brain Innovations). The contamination pictures predicted fMRI signal changes in the anterior insula and ventral prefrontal cortex. Mutilation pictures produced a similar, but slightly smaller effect; in addition they activated the putamen and inhibited the left orbitofrontal gyrus. Threat pictures, however, influenced fMRI signal in the insula much less significantly. In all three conditions, the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri were activated. The signal time-course for the former regions show slow, emotion-dependant activation, whereas in the latter two regions it suggests arousal of visual processing. We conclude that while the anterior insula and the ventral prefrontal cortex are generally involved in negative emotional experiences, they are most strongly activated by the emotional response to contaminating stimuli, that is, disgust.
Supported by National Alliance of Research for Schizophrenia and Depression
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2003 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.
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