Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 486.1 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Hearing your feelings – an fMRI study of emotional processing in tinnitus. |
| Authors: |
Flor, H.*1
1Clin. and Cognitive Neurosci., Univ. of Heidelberg, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory Systems - Auditory -- Auditory cortex: Perception, cognition, and action |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Motivation and Emotion |
| Session: |
486. Auditory Cortex I Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, October 25, 2004 1:00 PM-1:15 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Room 26A |
| Keywords: |
Tinnitus is a pervasive disorder that is characterized by earsonds that occur without auditory stimulation. The goal of the present study was to determine if emotional in addition to sensory processing is altered in tinnitus sufferers, if it occurs early on or as a long-term consequence of tinnitus, and which brain regions mediate this response. Sixteen acute tinnitus sufferers, 16 chronic tinnitus patients and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were exposed to a set of positive, negative and neutral slides from the International Affective Picture System while their brain activation was assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, emotional valence and arousal ratings were recorded. The acute and the chronic tinnitus sufferers were comparable in tinnitus characteristics as well as the psychometric data. The three groups were not significantly different in the ratings of the pictures suggesting that they were processed in a similar manner. Acute tinnitus sufferers showed a higher BOLD response in the left insula, the left cingulate gyrus, and the right middle frontal gyrus to negative than to neutral pictures compared to controls. Almost the same but less pronounced activation was found in chronic patients. The analysis of the processing of positive vs neutral pictures revealed that only acute but not chronic patients showed a higher BOLD response than controls in the left insula and the left cingulate gyrus. Negative vs neutral pictures elicited a higher BOLD response in acute and chronic tinnitus sufferers not only in limbic areas but also in the supratemporal and middle temporal gyrus. These brain areas are closely connected to brain structures responsible for auditory processing like the auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyrus) and are known to be involved in secondary or tertiary auditory processing. These data suggest major involvement of limbic areas in the processing of negative stimuli in tinnitus sufferers as well as a specific involvement of auditory areas in emotional processing.
Supported by American Tinnitus Association
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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