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Li X, Yang Y, Wang R, Zhou L, Zheng X. Secure attachment priming inhibits the generalization of conditioned fear. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:358. [PMID: 38890761 PMCID: PMC11186254 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01857-9] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear overgeneralization constitutes a susceptibility factor contributing to the development and maintenance of anxiety spectrum disorders. Extant research has demonstrated that exposure to positive and supportive social relationships attenuates fear acquisition and promotes the extinction of conditioned fear responses. However, the literature lacks investigation into the effect of secure attachment priming on inhibiting the generalization of conditioned fear. METHODS In this study, college students were recruited via online platforms to voluntarily engage in the experimental procedures, resulting in 57 subjects whose data were deemed suitable for analysis. The experimental protocol consisted of four consecutive phases: pre-acquisition, acquisition, priming, and generalization. The priming phase consisted of two experimental conditions: secure attachment priming (experimental group) and positive emotion priming (control group). This study adopted the perceptual discrimination fear conditioning paradigm, employing subjective expectancy of shock ratings and skin conductance responses as primary assessment indices. Individual difference variables were measured using corresponding psychological measurement scales. RESULTS In terms of generalization degree, a notable divergence surfaced in the skin conductance responses across various generalization materials between the secure attachment priming group and the control group. Similarly, during generalization extinction, a significant disparity emerged in the skin conductance responses across different generalization phases between the secure attachment priming group and the control group. In addition, individual differences analyses revealed that the inhibitory effect of secure attachment priming on fear generalization was not affected by intolerance of uncertainty and attachment orientations. Conversely, slope analyses confirmed that as intolerance of uncertainty increased, the inhibitory effect of positive emotion priming on fear generalization was attenuated. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that activating participants' representations of secure attachment via imagination effectively attenuates the generalization of perceptual fear at the physiological level. The inhibitory effect of secure attachment priming appears to be distinct from positive emotional modulation and remains unaffected by individual trait attachment styles. These results offer novel insights and avenues for the prevention and clinical intervention of anxiety spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Li
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China.
| | - Yong Yang
- School of Educational Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Ranran Wang
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China
| | - Lehong Zhou
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China
| | - Xifu Zheng
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Bagnis A, Todorov A, Altizio I, Colonnello V, Fanti S, Russo PM, Mattarozzi K. Familiarity From Facial Appearance Leads to Hypoalgesia. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:2040-2051. [PMID: 37356606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Social context has been shown to influence pain perception. This study aimed to broaden this literature by investigating whether relevant social stimuli, such as faces with different levels of intrinsic (based on physical resemblance to known individuals) and episodic (acquired through a previous experience) familiarity, may lead to hypoalgesia. We hypothesized that familiarity, whether intrinsic or acquired through experience, would increase pain threshold and decrease pain intensity. Sixty-seven participants underwent pain induction (the cold pressor test) viewing previously seen faces (Episodic Group) or new faces (Non-episodic Group) that differed in the level of intrinsic familiarity (high vs low). Pain threshold was measured in seconds, while pain intensity was measured on a rating scale of 0 to 10. The results did not show an effect of episodic familiarity. However, compared to low, high intrinsic familiar faces had an attenuating effect on pain intensity, even after controlling for pain expectation. These results suggest that physical features conveying a higher feeling of familiarity induce a top-down hypoalgesic modulation, in line with the idea that familiarity may signal safety and that the presence of familiar others reduce perceived threat-related distress. This study provides further evidence on the social modulation of pain and contributes to the literature on first impressions' influence on social behavior. PERSPECTIVE: Consistent with the idea that familiar others signal safety and reduce the sense of threat, facial features conveying familiarity induce a top-down hypoalgesic modulation. This knowledge may contribute to understanding differences in pain perception in experimental and clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bagnis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alexander Todorov
- Booth School of Business, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ilenia Altizio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Colonnello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Fanti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Maria Russo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Katia Mattarozzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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3
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Finke JB, Opdensteinen KD, Klucken T, Schächinger H. Close(d) to you? Avoidant attachment is associated with attenuated pupil responsivity to social stimuli. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 192:26-34. [PMID: 37558096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.08.002] [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] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Insecure attachment is thought to impair romantic relationships, presumably also contributing to mental health problems. Previous research has suggested a link to biased automatic processing of social information, potentially reflected in pupil dilation responses. To address this hypothesis, 37 adults were presented with attachment-related, emotional pictures of erotic couples, everyday couples, or interpersonal violence after assessment with the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Considerable variation in self-reported attachment behaviors regarding both attachment anxiety and avoidance was observed in our sample. Overall, pupil dilation was most pronounced during viewing of erotica and violence-related pictures. Relative to nature pictures as control, attachment avoidance was associated with attenuated pupillary responses to social content. However, this was not significant with erotica. For pictures of violence, this avoidant bias was also evident in reduced subjective arousal. In contrast, attachment anxiety was unrelated to differential pupil dilation. Our findings, although preliminary, suggest that previous attachment-related experiences may bias the processing of social stimuli, which in turn may be reflected in altered patterns of pupillary responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes B Finke
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany; Institute of Psychobiology, Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
| | - Kim D Opdensteinen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schächinger
- Institute of Psychobiology, Department of Clinical Psychophysiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
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4
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Hill J, Fonagy P, Osel T, Dziobek I, Sharp C. The social domains organization of mentalizing processes in adolescents: a contribution to the conceptualization of personality function and dysfunction in young people. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1470-1479. [PMID: 37259851 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We propose and evaluate a contribution to the conceptualization and assessment of personality functioning based on social domains and mentalizing hypotheses. Social domains are distinct social contexts, such as with acquaintances and friends, with differentiated expectations regarding participants' behaviours and social attributions. The capacity to organize social participation according to these expectations requires the ability, we suggest, to modulate mentalizing processes domain by domain. Drawing on evidence that social domain organization is impaired in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and that hypermentalizing, a heightened interpretation of others' motives, thoughts or emotions, is elevated in adolescent BPD, we hypothesized that hypermentalizing levels in adolescents will vary by social domain and that elevated BPD features will be associated with impairment of this domain organization of hypermentalizing. METHODS Measures including the borderline personality features scale for children (BPFSC) and the movie for the assessment of social cognition (MASC) were administered to 171 adolescents aged 12-17 recruited from public schools and community organizations in a large metropolitan area in southwestern United States. Mean hypermentalizing scores were computed for adolescent interpretations of sequences in the MASC focusing on the social domains of acquaintance, friends and romantic interactions. RESULTS There was a progressive increase in hypermentalizing scores across the acquaintance, friends and romantic interactions (repeated measures ANOVA, p < .001, all pairwise comparisons, p ≤ .02), which was markedly reduced in the presence of elevated BPD features (interaction term, p = .007). CONCLUSIONS Hypermentalizing is organized according to social domain and this organization is impaired in the presence of elevated BPD features. The findings are consistent with the proposal that personality functioning entails a social domains organization of hypermentalizing, which is impaired in personality dysfunction. Identifying mentalizing processes domain by domain has the potential to create a personalized focus for the treatment of adolescents with personality difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hill
- School for Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
- Department of Philosophy, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London, London, UK
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
| | - Tiziana Osel
- School for Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Isabel Dziobek
- Institut fur Psychologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carla Sharp
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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5
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Nikrahan GR. Theory of brain complexity and marital behaviors: The application of complexity science and neuroscience to explain the complexities of marital behaviors. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1050164. [PMID: 36959907 PMCID: PMC10027753 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1050164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The extant theories on the quality and stability of marital relationships have some difficulties in explaining some of the complexities of marital behaviors. The present article is an initial attempt to explain the complexities of marital behaviors based on the science of complexity and neuroscience. This article proposes a new theoretical framework relying on this simple argument that marital behaviors, as one of the most complex human behaviors, are the product of one's brain's complex adaptive system (CAS). Hence, to understand the complexities of marital behaviors, a movement toward familiarity with the brain's CAS involved in marital behaviors needs to be started. The article presents the theory of brain complexity and marital behaviors (BCM) and outlines its assumptions, concepts, and propositions. Then, BCM is compared with the extant theories on happy and stable marriage, and finally, it was concluded by discussing the testability and the potential application of the theory. This article might inspire interdisciplinary studies of marital relationships, complex systems, and neuroscience and may have considerable practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholam Reza Nikrahan
- Department of Psychology, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
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6
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Kinkead A, Riquelme CS. Emotional interdependence: the key to studying extrinsic emotion regulation. PSICOLOGIA-REFLEXAO E CRITICA 2022; 35:35. [PMID: 36329354 PMCID: PMC9633879 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-022-00237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The literature on extrinsic emotion regulation or the intention to modify other people’s emotions has grown in recent years, accompanied by proposals in which its definition is made more precise, the way to understand it in relation to other related processes is delimited, and the consequences of its use in the quality of close relationships are evidenced. Conceptual reviews on this topic recognize the importance of examining the affect and dyadic dynamics that arise between those who regulate each other extrinsically. This dynamic refers to emotional interdependence, the potential of the members of a dyad to shape each other’s emotions reciprocally, particularly in those who share a close bond, such as that of a romantic couple. There is little theoretical development regarding the relevance of this characteristic in relation to EER. This article has two objectives: (1) to make a narrative synthesis of the characteristics that define EER and (2) to expand and complexify the existing model by including the emotional interdependence as a vital component in the understanding of the functioning of EER. Lastly, the role of emotional interdependence in the emergence, maintenance, and satisfaction concerning couple relationships is made explicit through phenomena such as shared reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Kinkead
- grid.441837.d0000 0001 0765 9762Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Av. Pedro de Valdivia 425, Providencia, Santiago, Chile ,grid.412193.c0000 0001 2150 3115Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Salas Riquelme
- grid.412193.c0000 0001 2150 3115Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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7
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A Comparative Analysis of Divergent Evolutionary Models of Attachment and a New Biobehavioral Conceptualization. PSYCHOLOGICAL RECORD 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40732-021-00501-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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8
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Intolerance of uncertainty is associated with heightened responding in the prefrontal cortex during cue-signalled uncertainty of threat. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 22:88-98. [PMID: 34312816 PMCID: PMC8791867 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00932-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Heightened responding to uncertain threat is considered a hallmark of anxiety disorder pathology. We sought to determine whether individual differences in self-reported intolerance of uncertainty (IU), a key transdiagnostic dimension in anxiety-related pathology, underlies differential recruitment of neural circuitry during cue-signalled uncertainty of threat (n = 42). In an instructed threat of shock task, cues signalled uncertain threat of shock (50%) or certain safety from shock. Ratings of arousal and valence, skin conductance response (SCR), and functional magnetic resonance imaging were acquired. Overall, participants displayed greater ratings of arousal and negative valence, SCR, and amygdala activation to uncertain threat versus safe cues. IU was not associated with greater arousal ratings, SCR, or amygdala activation to uncertain threat versus safe cues. However, we found that high IU was associated with greater ratings of negative valence and greater activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial rostral prefrontal cortex to uncertain threat versus safe cues. These findings suggest that during cue-signalled uncertainty of threat, individuals high in IU rate uncertain threat as aversive and engage prefrontal cortical regions known to be involved in safety-signalling and conscious threat appraisal. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of IU in modulating safety-signalling and conscious appraisal mechanisms in situations with cue-signalled uncertainty of threat, which may be relevant to models of anxiety-related pathology.
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9
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Liu D, Piao Y, Ma R, Zhang Y, Guo W, Zuo L, Liu W, Song H, Zhang X. Actor and Partner Effects of Touch: Touch-Induced Stress Alleviation Is Influenced by Perceived Relationship Quality of the Couple. Front Psychol 2021; 12:661438. [PMID: 33927670 PMCID: PMC8076733 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of the impact of close partner's touch on psychological and physical well-being by alleviating stress, it is important to explore the influence factors that underlie the stress-alleviating effect of close partner's touch. Previous studies suggested that the stress-alleviating effect was different when individuals were touched by different persons. Specifically, the stress was reduced significantly when the individual was touched by the close partner compared with the acquaintance and the stranger. However, whether the stress-alleviating effect of touch was modulated by the close relationship quality is unknown. To examine this question, the participants (n = 61) performed a 3 (i.e., alone, partner no-touch, and partner touch) × 2 (i.e., safety and threat) within-subjects experiment. The results revealed that the stress of the participants alleviated significantly while close partners present with touch compared with without touch during facing a threat. We also found that the relationship quality of couple-members (i.e., participants perceiving the quality of alternatives and the partners' commitment level) modulated touch-induced stress alleviation. Participants perceiving the low quality of alternatives and the high partners' commitment level showed stronger touch-induced stress-alleviating effect than participants perceiving the high quality of alternatives and the low partners' commitment level. The explained variance was around 16.8% jointly for actor and partner effects. These findings provide evidence for explaining the reasons for touch-induced alleviating stress and have important implications for predicting the future effect of interactive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Difei Liu
- School of Education, Hefei University, Hefei, China.,School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yi Piao
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ru Ma
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- School of Foreign Languages, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Guo
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Mental Health Education Center, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
| | - Lin Zuo
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Weili Liu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Hongwen Song
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Hefei Medical Research Center on Alcohol Addiction, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
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10
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Beckes LA, Medina-DeVilliers SE, Coan JA. The social regulation of emotion: Inconsistencies suggest no mediation through ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Soc Neurosci 2021; 16:6-17. [PMID: 32394803 PMCID: PMC7738398 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2020.1767686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Physical touch in the form of holding a loved one's hand attenuates the neural response to threat. Speculation regarding the neural mediation of this effect points to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is known to have inhibitory connections with threat responsive brain regions such as the amygdala. Despite the attractiveness of this hypothesis, a link between the vmPFC and diminished threat during handholding has been difficult to demonstrate empirically. Here we report that in a sample of 110 participants no evidence for vmPFC mediation of the handholding effect was obtained. Indeed, results indicated that connectivity patterns between threat responsive salience network structures and the vmPFC were in the opposite direction one would predict if the vmPFC mediated reductions in neural threat-responding caused by partner handholding. Our findings suggest that the vmPFC does not mediate the regulating effect of physical contact on neural threat responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lane A Beckes
- Department of Psychology, Bradley University , Peoria, USA
| | | | - James A Coan
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia , Charlottesville, USA
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11
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Morawetz C, Berboth S, Bode S. With a little help from my friends: The effect of social proximity on emotion regulation-related brain activity. Neuroimage 2021; 230:117817. [PMID: 33529742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
When experiencing negative emotions, individuals often reach out for social support to help regulate their emotions. In times of an acute crisis, however, close friends might not be available, and physical closeness might be impossible. This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the effect of social proximity on the effectiveness of social support for regulating emotions and the underlying neural mechanisms. Participants regulated their emotions in response to negative images either alone (intrapersonal regulation), or with help of a picture and supporting sentence provided by the best friend, or by a stranger (interpersonal regulation). Regulation success was enhanced for the support of friends compared to regulating alone or with the support of strangers. This effect was accompanied by the interplay of large-scale brain networks involved in processing emotions, social cognition, and cognitive control. Interpersonal regulation appeared to be implemented by lateral prefrontal regions. The amygdala showed increased activation for strangers. The activation profile of the social cognition network suggests a role in supporting empathic and mentalizing processes. The results highlight the power of social connectedness for boosting emotion regulation ability and the different neural networks that contribute to this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Morawetz
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52f, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Stella Berboth
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Bode
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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12
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Azhari A, Rigo P, Tan PY, Neoh MJY, Esposito G. Viewing Romantic and Friendship Interactions Activate Prefrontal Regions in Persons With High Openness Personality Trait. Front Psychol 2020; 11:490. [PMID: 32265795 PMCID: PMC7108494 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The personality traits we have and the closeness we experience in our relationships inevitably color the lenses through which we perceive social interactions. As such, the varying perceptions of our social relationships could indicate underlying differences in neural processes that occur in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region involved in social cognition. However, little is known of how personality traits and relationship closeness with others influence brain responses when viewing social interactions between kin (i.e., siblings) and non-kin (i.e., romantic, friends) partners. In the present study, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to investigate prefrontal cortical activation patterns in response to three 1-min mute video clips depicting a male–female couple interacting with comparably mild levels of affection while baking, exercising, and eating. The context of the interaction was manipulated by informing participants about the type of relationship each couple in the three video clips was in: (a) romantic partners, (b) friends, or (c) siblings. By changing only the contextual labels of the videos, we revealed distinct PFC responses to relationship type as a function of openness trait, closeness with romantic partner, and closeness with siblings. As openness score increased, we observed an enhanced activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the left anterior PFC (aPFC), and the right frontal eye fields (FEFs) in response to the video labeled romantic and friendship, but a reduction in these areas in the siblings condition. Similarly, individuals with higher romantic and sibling closeness showed increased activation in the IFG and dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) in response to romantic and friendship conditions, but decreased activation in the siblings condition. Differences in PFC activations toward romantic, friendship, and sibling relationships reflect underlying variations in the cognitive processing of social interactions, depending on the personality (i.e., openness) and experiences (i.e., relationship closeness) of the individual, as well as the relationship type with which the interaction is labeled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiqah Azhari
- School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paola Rigo
- School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Pei Yu Tan
- School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Gianluca Esposito
- School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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