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Gerpheide K, Unterschemmann SL, Panitz C, Bierwirth P, Gross JJ, Mueller EM. Unpredictable threat increases early event-related potential amplitudes and cardiac acceleration: A brain-heart coupling study. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14563. [PMID: 38467585 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
In the face of unpredictable threat, rapid processing of external events and behavioral mobilization through early psychophysiological responses are crucial for survival. While unpredictable threat generally enhances early processing, it would seem adaptive to particularly increase sensitivity for unexpected events as they may signal danger. To examine this possibility, n = 77 participants performed an auditory oddball paradigm and received unpredictable shocks in threat but not in safe contexts while a stream of frequent (standard) and infrequent (deviant) tones was presented. We assessed event-related potentials (ERP), heart period (HP), and time-lagged within-subject correlations of single-trial EEG and HP (cardio-EEG covariance tracing, CECT) time-locked to the tones. N1 and P2 ERP amplitudes were generally enhanced under threat. The P3 amplitude was enhanced to deviants versus standards and this effect was reduced in the threat condition. Regarding HP, both threat versus safe and unexpected versus expected tones led to stronger cardiac acceleration, suggesting separate effects of threat and stimulus expectancy on HP. Finally, CECTs revealed two correlation clusters, indicating that single-trial EEG magnitudes in the N1/P2 and P3 time-windows predicted subsequent cardiac acceleration. The current results show that an unpredictable threat context enhances N1 and P2 amplitudes and cardiac acceleration to benign auditory stimuli. They further suggest separable cortical correlates of different effects on cardiac activity: an early N1/P2 correlate associated with threat-effects on HP and a later P3 correlate associated with expectedness-effects. Finally, the results indicate that unpredictable threat attenuates rather than enhances the processing of unexpected benign events during the P3 latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Gerpheide
- Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Christian Panitz
- Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - James J Gross
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Erik M Mueller
- Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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2
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Lin L, Cheng Y, Huang P, Zhang J, Zheng J, Pan X. Synchronous monitoring of brain-heart electrophysiology using heart rate variability coupled with rapid quantitative electroencephalography in orthostatic hypotension patients with α-synucleinopathies: Rapid prediction of orthostatic hypotension and preliminary exploration of brain stimulation therapy. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14571. [PMID: 38421092 PMCID: PMC10850923 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In α-synucleinopathies, the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which typically manifests as orthostatic hypotension (OH) often leads to severe consequences and poses therapeutic challenges. This study aims to discover the brain-cardiac electrophysiological changes in OH patients with α-synucleinopathies using the rapid quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) coupled with heart rate variability (HRV) technique to identify rapid, noninvasive biomarkers for early warning and diagnosis, as well as shed new light on complementary treatment approaches such as brain stimulation targets. METHODS In this study, 26 subjects of α-synucleinopathies with OH (α-OH group), 21 subjects of α-synucleinopathies without OH (α-NOH group), and 34 healthy controls (control group) were included from September 2021 to August 2023 (NCT05527067). The heart rate-blood pressure variations in supine and standing positions were monitored, and synchronization parameters of seated resting-state HRV coupled with qEEG were collected. Time-domain and frequency-domain of HRV measures as well as peak frequency and power of the brainwaves were extracted. Differences between these three groups were compared, and correlations between brain-heart parameters were analyzed. RESULTS The research results showed that the time-domain parameters such as MxDMn, pNN50, RMSSD, and SDSD of seated resting-state HRV exhibited a significant decrease only in the α-OH group compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the α-NOH group and the healthy control group. Several time-domain and frequency-domain parameters of seated resting-state HRV were found to be correlated with the blood pressure changes within the first 5 min of transitioning from supine to standing position (p < 0.05). Differences were observed in the power of beta1 waves (F4 and Fp2) and beta2 waves (Fp2 and F4) in the seated resting-state qEEG between the α-OH and α-NOH groups (p < 0.05). The peak frequency of theta waves in the Cz region also showed a difference (p < 0.05). The power of beta2 waves in the Fp2 and F4 brain regions correlated with frequency-domain parameters of HRV (p < 0.05). Additionally, abnormal electrical activity in the alpha, theta, and beta1 waves was associated with changes in heart rate and blood pressure within the first 5 min of transitioning from supine to standing position (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Rapid resting-state HRV with certain time-domain parameters below normal levels may serve as a predictive indicator for the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients with α-synucleinopathies. Additionally, the deterioration of HRV parameters correlates with synchronous abnormal qEEG patterns, which can provide insights into the brain stimulation target areas for OH in α-synucleinopathy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
| | - Yingzhe Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
| | - Peilin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
| | - Jiejun Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Center for GeriatricsHainan General HospitalHaikou CityHainan ProvinceChina
| | - Jiahao Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
| | - Xiaodong Pan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive NeurologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Institute of GeriatricsFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhou CityChina
- Institute of Clinical NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular NeurologyFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou CityChina
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Ertl M, Zu Eulenburg P, Woller M, Mayadali Ü, Boegle R, Dieterich M. Vestibular mapping of the naturalistic head-centered motion spectrum. J Vestib Res 2023; 33:299-312. [PMID: 37458057 DOI: 10.3233/ves-210121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Naturalistic head accelerations can be used to elicit vestibular evoked potentials (VestEPs). These potentials allow for analysis of cortical vestibular processing and its multi-sensory integration with a high temporal resolution. METHODS We report the results of two experiments in which we compared the differential VestEPs elicited by randomized translations, rotations, and tilts in healthy subjects on a motion platform. RESULTS An event-related potential (ERP) analysis revealed that established VestEPs were verifiable in all three acceleration domains (translations, rotations, tilts). A further analysis of the VestEPs showed a significant correlation between rotation axes (yaw, pitch, roll) and the amplitude of the evoked potentials. We found increased amplitudes for rotations in the roll compared to the pitch and yaw plane. A distributed source localization analysis showed that the activity in the cingulate sulcus visual (CSv) area best explained direction-dependent amplitude modulations of the VestEPs, but that the same cortical network (posterior insular cortex, CSv) is involved in processing vestibular information, regardless of the motion direction. CONCLUSION The results provide evidence for an anisotropic, direction-dependent processing of vestibular input by cortical structures. The data also suggest that area CSv plays an integral role in ego-motion perception and interpretation of spatial features such as acceleration direction and intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Ertl
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Zu Eulenburg
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders (IFBLMU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marie Woller
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ümit Mayadali
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Boegle
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders (IFBLMU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marianne Dieterich
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders (IFBLMU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
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EEG analysis of the visual motion activated vection network in left- and right-handers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19566. [PMID: 36379961 PMCID: PMC9666650 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21824-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Visually-induced self-motion perception (vection) relies on interaction of the visual and vestibular systems. Neuroimaging studies have identified a lateralization of the thalamo-cortical multisensory vestibular network, with left-handers exhibiting a dominance of the left hemisphere and right-handers exhibiting a dominance of the right hemisphere. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we compare the early processing of a vection-consistent visual motion stimulus against a vection-inconsistent stimulus, to investigate the temporal activation of the vection network by visual motion stimulation and the lateralization of these processes in left- versus right-handers. In both groups, vection-consistent stimulation evoked attenuated central event-related potentials (ERPs) in an early (160-220 ms) and a late (260-300 ms) time window. Differences in estimated source activity were found across visual, sensorimotor, and multisensory vestibular cortex in the early window, and were observed primarily in the posterior cingulate, retrosplenial cortex, and precuneus in the late window. Group comparisons revealed a larger ERP condition difference (i.e. vection-consistent stimulation minus vection-inconsistent stimulation) in left-handers, which was accompanied by group differences in the cingulate sulcus visual (CSv) area. Together, these results suggest that handedness may influence ERP responses and activity in area CSv during vection-consistent and vection-inconsistent visual motion stimulation.
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Heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP) capture brain activity affecting subsequent heartbeat. Biomed Signal Process Control 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2021.102731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Sperl MFJ, Panitz C, Rosso IM, Dillon DG, Kumar P, Hermann A, Whitton AE, Hermann C, Pizzagalli DA, Mueller EM. Fear Extinction Recall Modulates Human Frontomedial Theta and Amygdala Activity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:701-715. [PMID: 29373635 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) studies, as well as animal studies, indicate that the amygdala and frontomedial brain regions are critically involved in conditioned fear and that frontomedial oscillations in the theta range (4-8 Hz) may support communication between these brain regions. However, few studies have used a multimodal approach to probe interactions among these key regions in humans. Here, our goal was to bridge the gap between prior human fMRI, EEG, and animal findings. Using simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings 24 h after fear conditioning and extinction, conditioned stimuli presented (CS+E, CS-E) and not presented during extinction (CS+N, CS-N) were compared to identify effects specific to extinction versus fear recall. Differential (CS+ vs. CS-) electrodermal, frontomedial theta (EEG) and amygdala responses (fMRI) were reduced for extinguished versus nonextinguished stimuli. Importantly, effects on theta power covaried with effects on amygdala activation. Fear and extinction recall as indicated by theta explained 60% of the variance for the analogous effect in the right amygdala. Our findings show for the first time the interplay of amygdala and frontomedial theta activity during fear and extinction recall in humans and provide insight into neural circuits consistently linked with top-down amygdala modulation in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias F J Sperl
- Department of Psychology, Personality Psychology and Assessment, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Christian Panitz
- Department of Psychology, Personality Psychology and Assessment, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Isabelle M Rosso
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Daniel G Dillon
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Poornima Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Hermann
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Alexis E Whitton
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Christiane Hermann
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Erik M Mueller
- Department of Psychology, Personality Psychology and Assessment, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Abstract
Gambling disorder is characterized by a persistent, recurrent pattern of gambling that is associated with substantial distress or impairment. The prevalence of gambling disorder has been estimated at 0.5% of the adult population in the United States, with comparable or slightly higher estimates in other countries. The aetiology of gambling disorder is complex, with implicated genetic and environmental factors. Neurobiological studies have implicated cortico-striato-limbic structures and circuits in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Individuals with gambling disorder often go unrecognized and untreated, including within clinical settings. Gambling disorder frequently co-occurs with other conditions, particularly other psychiatric disorders. Behavioural interventions, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy but also motivational interviewing and Gamblers Anonymous, are supported in the treatment of gambling disorder. No pharmacological therapy has a formal indication for the treatment of gambling disorder, although placebo-controlled trials suggest that some medications, such as opioid-receptor antagonists, may be helpful. Given the associations with poor quality of life and suicide, improved identification, prevention, policy and treatment efforts are needed to help people with gambling disorder.
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Patron E, Mennella R, Messerotti Benvenuti S, Thayer JF. The frontal cortex is a heart-brake: Reduction in delta oscillations is associated with heart rate deceleration. Neuroimage 2019; 188:403-410. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Lueckel M, Panitz C, Nater UM, Mueller EM. Reliability and robustness of feedback-evoked brain-heart coupling after placebo, dopamine, and noradrenaline challenge. Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 132:298-310. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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10
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Ertl M, Moser M, Boegle R, Conrad J, zu Eulenburg P, Dieterich M. The cortical spatiotemporal correlate of otolith stimulation: Vestibular evoked potentials by body translations. Neuroimage 2017; 155:50-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Oppenheimer S, Cechetto D. The Insular Cortex and the Regulation of Cardiac Function. Compr Physiol 2016; 6:1081-133. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c140076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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12
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Lechinger J, Heib DPJ, Gruber W, Schabus M, Klimesch W. Heartbeat-related EEG amplitude and phase modulations from wakefulness to deep sleep: Interactions with sleep spindles and slow oscillations. Psychophysiology 2015; 52:1441-50. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Lechinger
- Department of Psychology, Division of Physiological Psychology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Laboratory for Sleep and Consciousness Research; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - Dominik Philip Johannes Heib
- Department of Psychology, Division of Physiological Psychology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Laboratory for Sleep and Consciousness Research; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - Walter Gruber
- Department of Psychology, Division of Physiological Psychology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - Manuel Schabus
- Department of Psychology, Division of Physiological Psychology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Laboratory for Sleep and Consciousness Research; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - Wolfgang Klimesch
- Department of Psychology, Division of Physiological Psychology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
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13
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Panitz C, Hermann C, Mueller EM. Conditioned and extinguished fear modulate functional corticocardiac coupling in humans. Psychophysiology 2015; 52:1351-60. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Panitz
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; Justus Liebig University Giessen; Giessen Germany
| | - Christiane Hermann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; Justus Liebig University Giessen; Giessen Germany
| | - Erik M. Mueller
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; Justus Liebig University Giessen; Giessen Germany
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14
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Abstract
Human neuroimaging studies indicate that the anterior midcingulate cortex (AMC) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) play important roles in the expression and extinction of fear, respectively. Electrophysiological rodent studies further indicate that oscillatory neuronal activity in homolog regions (i.e., prelimbic and infralimbic cortices) changes during fear expression and fear extinction recall. Whether similar processes occur in humans remains largely unexplored. By assessing scalp surface EEG in conjunction with LORETA source estimation of CS-related theta and gamma activity, we tested whether a priori defined ROIs in the human AMC and vmPFC similarly modulate their oscillatory activity during fear expression and extinction recall, respectively. To this end, 42 healthy individuals underwent a differential conditioning/differential extinction protocol with a Recall Test on the next day. In the Recall Test, nonextinguished versus extinguished stimuli evoked an increased differential (CS(+) vs CS(-)) response with regard to skin conductance and AMC-localized theta power. Conversely, extinguished versus nonextinguished stimuli evoked an increased differential response with regard to vmPFC-localized gamma power. Finally, individuals who failed to show a suppressed skin conductance response to the extinguished versus nonextinguished CS(+) also failed to show the otherwise observed alterations in vmPFC gamma power to extinguished CS(+). These results indicate that fear expression is associated with AMC theta activity, whereas successful fear extinction recall relates to changes in vmPFC gamma activity. The present work thereby bridges findings from prior rodent electrophysiological research and human neuroimaging studies and indicates that EEG is a valuable tool for future fear extinction research.
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Mueller EM, Panitz C, Nestoriuc Y, Stemmler G, Wacker J. Panic disorder and serotonin reuptake inhibitors predict coupling of cortical and cardiac activity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:507-14. [PMID: 23985783 PMCID: PMC3870782 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Panic attacks, the cardinal symptom of panic disorder (PD), are characterized by intense physiological reactions including accelerated heart activity. Although cortical processes are thought to trigger and potentiate panic attacks, it is unknown whether individuals with PD have a general tendency to show elevated cortico-cardiac interactions, which could predispose them for brain-driven modulations of heart activity during panic. Consistent with this hypothesis, serotonin, a highly relevant neurotransmitter for panic and PD presumably affects the cortical control of the heart. The current study thus aimed to test whether PD and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) intake are related to cortico-cardiac interactions in the absence of acute panic. Human participants with PD (N=22), major depression (MD, clinical control group, N=21) or no psychiatric diagnosis (healthy control group, N=23) performed a gambling task. To measure cortico-cardiac coupling, the within-subject covariation of single-trial EEG after feedback presentation and subsequent changes in heart period was determined. As in prior studies, there was a significant time-lagged covariation of EEG and heart activity indicating that trial-by-trial fluctuations of feedback-evoked EEG amplitude determined how much heart activity accelerated seconds later. Importantly, this covariation pattern was significantly potentiated in PD vs control participants. Moreover, concurrent SRI intake further augmented brain-heart covariation in individuals with PD and MD. The present findings demonstrate that PD and serotonin are associated with altered brain-heart interactions in a non-panic situation. Future work should clarify whether brain-heart coupling has a causal role in PD, for example by facilitating panic attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik M Mueller
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany,University of Giessen, Department of Psychology, Otto-Behaghel Str. 10F 39354, Giessen, Germany. Tel: +49 641 9926 084, Fax: +49 641 99 26099, E-mail:
| | - Christian Panitz
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Nestoriuc
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Stemmler
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wacker
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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