Neocortical modulation of the amygdala response to fearful stimuli.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The cortical circuitry involved in conscious cognitive processes and the subcortical circuitry involved in fear responses have been extensively studied with neuroimaging, but their interactions remain largely unexplored. A recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study demonstrated that the engagement of the right prefrontal cortex during the cognitive evaluation of angry and fearful facial expressions is associated with an attenuation of the response of the amygdala to these same stimuli, providing evidence for a functional neural network for emotional regulation.

METHODS:
In the current study, we have explored the generalizability of this functional network by using threatening and fearful non-face stimuli derived from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), as well as the influence of this network on peripheral autonomic responses.

RESULTS:
Similar to the earlier findings with facial expressions, blood oxygen level dependent fMRI revealed that whereas perceptual processing of IAPS stimuli was associated with a bilateral amygdala response, cognitive evaluation of these same stimuli was associated with attenuation of this amygdala response and a correlated increase in response of the right prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. Moreover, this pattern was reflected in changes in skin conductance.

CONCLUSIONS:
The current results further implicate the importance of neocortical regions, including the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, in regulating emotional responses mediated by the amygdala through conscious evaluation and appraisal.

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Author information

Author/s: Hariri, Ahmad R (AR); Mattay, Venkata S (VS); Tessitore, Alessandro (A); Fera, Francesco (F); Weinberger, Daniel R (DR);

Affiliation: Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 53 (issue 6) : pp 494-501

Dates: Created 2003/03/19; Completed 2003/07/03; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12644354, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Affect
Amygdala - anatomy & histology; metabolism
Cognition - physiology
Equipment Design
Fear
Female

Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation
Male
Oxygen - blood
Photic Stimulation
Prefrontal Cortex - anatomy & histology; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Oxygen (7782-44-7)

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