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Yokoyama S, Shikano A, Chiba H, Murakami T, Kawamorita T, Murayama T, Ito D, Ichikura K. Machine learning judged neutral facial expressions as key factors for a "good therapist" within the first five minutes: An experiment to simulate online video counselling. PEC INNOVATION 2024; 4:100302. [PMID: 38966314 PMCID: PMC11222811 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2024.100302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Objective Machine learning models were employed to discern patients' impressions from the therapists' facial expressions during a virtual online video counselling session. Methods Eight therapists simulated an online video counselling session for the same patient. The facial emotions of the therapists were extracted from the session videos; we then utilized a random forest model to determine the therapist's impression as perceived by the patients. Results The therapists' neutral facial expressions were important controlling factors for patients' impressions. A predictive model with three neutral facial features achieved an accuracy of 83% in identifying patients' impressions. Conclusions Neutral facial expressions may contribute to patient impressions in an online video counselling environment with spatiotemporal disconnection. Innovation Expression recognition techniques were applied innovatively to an online counselling setting where therapists' expressions are limited. Our findings have the potential to enhance psychiatric clinical practice using Information and Communication Technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yokoyama
- Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, Niigata, 9502181, Japan
| | - Asuna Shikano
- Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
| | - Hiroki Chiba
- Department of Medical Education, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520374, Japan
| | - Takeshi Murakami
- Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
- Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
| | - Takushi Kawamorita
- Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
- Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
| | - Takayuki Murayama
- Kanazawa University Graduate School Human and Socio-Environmental Studies, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 9201192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Graduate School of Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, 1-5-7 Higashikawasaki, Kobe, Hyogo 6500044, Japan
| | - Kanako Ichikura
- Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
- Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2520373, Japan
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Pastrnak M, Klirova M, Bares M, Novak T. Distinct connectivity patterns in bipolar and unipolar depression: a functional connectivity multivariate pattern analysis study. BMC Neurosci 2024; 25:46. [PMID: 39333843 PMCID: PMC11428473 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-024-00895-8] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit depressive episodes with similar symptoms despite having different and poorly understood underlying neurobiology, often leading to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. This exploratory study examined whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) using FC multivariate pattern analysis (fc-MVPA) to identify the FC patterns with the greatest ability to distinguish between currently depressed patients with BD type I (BD I) and those with MDD. METHODOLOGY In a cross-sectional design, 41 BD I, 40 MDD patients and 63 control participants completed resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Data-driven fc-MVPA, as implemented in the CONN toolbox, was used to identify clusters with differential FC patterns between BD patients and MDD patients. The identified cluster was used as a seed in a post hoc seed-based analysis (SBA) to reveal associated connectivity patterns, followed by a secondary ROI-to-ROI analysis to characterize differences in connectivity between these patterns among BD I patients, MDD patients and controls. RESULTS FC-MVPA identified one cluster located in the right frontal pole (RFP). The subsequent SBA revealed greater FC between the RFP and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and between the RFP and the left inferior/middle temporal gyrus (LI/MTG) and lower FC between the RFP and the left precentral gyrus (LPCG), left lingual gyrus/occipital cortex (LLG/OCC) and right occipital cortex (ROCC) in MDD patients than in BD patients. Compared with the controls, ROI-to-ROI analysis revealed lower FC between the RFP and the PCC and greater FC between the RFP and the LPCG, LLG/OCC and ROCC in BD patients; in MDD patients, the analysis revealed lower FC between the RFP and the LLG/OCC and ROCC and greater FC between the RFP and the LI/MTG. CONCLUSIONS Differences in the RFP FC patterns between currently depressed patients with BD and those with MDD suggest potential neuroimaging markers that should be further examined. Specifically, BD patients exhibit increased FC between the RFP and the motor and visual networks, which is associated with psychomotor symptoms and heightened compensatory frontoparietal FC to counter distractibility. In contrast, MDD patients exhibit increased FC between the RFP and the default mode network, corresponding to sustained self-focus and rumination.
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Grants
- Cooperatio Program, Neuroscience 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czech Republic
- Cooperatio Program, Neuroscience 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czech Republic
- Cooperatio Program, Neuroscience 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czech Republic
- Cooperatio Program, Neuroscience 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czech Republic
- NU22-04-00192 Agentura Pro Zdravotnický Výzkum České Republiky
- NU22-04-00192 Agentura Pro Zdravotnický Výzkum České Republiky
- NU22-04-00192 Agentura Pro Zdravotnický Výzkum České Republiky
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pastrnak
- National Institute of Mental Health, Clinic, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic.
- 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, 100 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Monika Klirova
- National Institute of Mental Health, Clinic, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
- 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, 100 00, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Bares
- National Institute of Mental Health, Clinic, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
- 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, 100 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Novak
- National Institute of Mental Health, Clinic, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
- 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, 100 00, Czech Republic
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Ding J, Tang Z, Chen Q, Liu Y, Feng C, Li Y, Ding X. Abnormal degree centrality as a potential imaging biomarker for ischemic stroke: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neurosci Lett 2024; 831:137790. [PMID: 38670522 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137790] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore degree centrality (DC) abnormalities in ischemic stroke patients and determine whether these abnormalities have potential value in understanding the pathological mechanisms of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS Sixteen ischemic stroke patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning, and the resulting data were subjected to DC analysis. Then we conducted a correlation analysis between DC values and neuropsychological test scores, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Finally, extracted the abnormal DC values of brain regions and defined them as features for support vector machine (SVM) analysis. RESULTS Compared with HCs, ischemic stroke patients showed increased DC in the bilateral supplementary motor area, and median cingulate and paracingulate gyri and decreased DC in the left postcentral gyrus, right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, lingual gyrus, and orbital parts of the right superior frontal gyrus and bilateral cuneus. Correlation analyses revealed that DC values in the right lingual gyrus, calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, and orbital parts of the right superior frontal gyrus were positively correlated with the MMSE scores. The SVM classification of the DC values achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93, an accuracy of 89.47%. CONCLUSION Our research results indicate that ischemic stroke patients exhibit abnormalities in the global connectivity mechanisms and patterns of the brain network. These abnormal changes may provide neuroimaging evidence for stroke-related motor, visual, and cognitive impairments, contribute to a deeper comprehension of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurong Ding
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China.
| | - Zhiling Tang
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China
| | - Qiang Chen
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China
| | - Yihong Liu
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China
| | - Chenyu Feng
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China
| | - Yuan Li
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, PR China; Artificial Intelligence Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, PR China
| | - Xin Ding
- Department of Neurology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, PR China
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Hernandez Pena L, Weidacker K, Massau C, Wetzel K, Brand AL, Weckes K, Opwis M, Schiffer B, Kärgel C. Can people empathize with offenders and victims during violent scenes? Behavioral and brain correlates of affective and cognitive empathy considering victim vs. offender perspective using the Bochumer affective and cognitive empathy task (BACET). Neuropsychologia 2024; 194:108784. [PMID: 38159801 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108784] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Empathy is defined as the capacity to resonate with others' emotions and can be subdivided into affective and cognitive components. Few studies have focused on the role of perspective-taking within this ability. Utilizing the novel Bochumer Affective and Cognitive Empathy Task (BACET), the present study aims to determine the characteristics of specific empathy components, as well as the impact of offender vs. victim perspective-taking. A total of 21 male participants (mean age = 30.6) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while watching 60 videos showing two protagonists in neutral (n = 30) or violent interactions (n = 30) thereby adopting the perspective of the (later) offender or victim. Our data show that videos showing emotional (violent) content, compared to those with neutral content, were rated more emotionally negative and induced higher affective empathic involvement, particularly when adopting the victim's perspective compared to the offender's point of view. The correct assignment of people's appropriate emotion (cognitive empathy) was found to be more accurate and faster in the emotional condition relative to the neutral one. However, no significant differences in cognitive empathy performance were observed when comparing victim vs offender conditions. On a neural level, affective empathy processing, during emotional compared to neutral videos, was related to brain areas generally involved in social information processing, particularly in occipital, parietal, insular, and frontal regions. Cognitive aspects of empathy, relative to factual reasoning questions, were located in inferior occipital areas, fusiform gyrus, temporal pole, and frontal cortex. Neural differences were found depending on the perspective, i.e., empathizing with the victim, compared to the offender, during affective empathy activated parts of the right temporal lobe, whereas empathy towards the role of the offender revealed stronger activation in the right lingual gyrus. During cognitive empathy, empathy toward the victim, relative to the offender, enhanced activity of the right supramarginal and left precentral gyri. The opposite contrast did not show any significant differences. We conclude that the BACET can be a useful tool for further studying behavioral and neurobiological underpinnings of affective and cognitive empathy, especially in forensic populations since response patterns point to a significant impact of the observer's perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Hernandez Pena
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship, Research Center Jülich and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Weidacker
- School of Psychology, University of Swansea, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Massau
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Kai Wetzel
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Brand
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Katharina Weckes
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Mareile Opwis
- Department of Health Psychology, Distance University Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Boris Schiffer
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian Kärgel
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
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Chaudhary S, Wong HK, Chen Y, Zhang S, Li CSR. Sex differences in the effects of individual anxiety state on regional responses to negative emotional scenes. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:15. [PMID: 38351045 PMCID: PMC10863151 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Men and women are known to show differences in the incidence and clinical manifestations of mood and anxiety disorders. Many imaging studies have investigated the neural correlates of sex differences in emotion processing. However, it remains unclear how anxiety might impact emotion processing differently in men and women. METHOD We recruited 119 healthy adults and assessed their levels of anxiety using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) State score. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined regional responses to negative vs. neutral (Neg-Neu) picture matching in the Hariri task. Behavioral data were analyzed using regression and repeated-measures analysis of covariance with age as a covariate, and fMRI data were analyzed using a full-factorial model with sex as a factor and age as a covariate. RESULTS Men and women did not differ in STAI score, or accuracy rate or reaction time (RT) (Neg-Neu). However, STAI scores correlated positively with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Additionally, in women, STAI score correlated positively with lingual gyrus (LG) and negatively with medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activity during Neg vs. Neu trials. The parameter estimates (βs) of mPFC also correlated with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis in women revealed mPFC connectivity with the right inferior frontal gyrus, right SFG, and left parahippocampal gyrus during Neg vs. Neu trials in positive correlation with both STAI score and RT (Neg-Neu). In a mediation analysis, mPFC gPPI but not mPFC activity fully mediated the association between STAI scores and RT (Neg-Neu). CONCLUSION With anxiety affecting the behavioral and neural responses to negative emotions in women but not in men and considering the known roles of the mPFC in emotion regulation, we discussed heightened sensitivity and regulatory demands during negative emotion processing as neurobehavioral markers of anxiety in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
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6
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Stout JA, Mahzarnia A, Dai R, Anderson RJ, Cousins S, Zhuang J, Lad EM, Whitaker DB, Madden DJ, Potter GG, Whitson HE, Badea A. Accelerated Brain Atrophy, Microstructural Decline and Connectopathy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Biomedicines 2024; 12:147. [PMID: 38255252 PMCID: PMC10813528 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has recently been linked to cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that AMD modifies the brain aging trajectory, and we conducted a longitudinal diffusion MRI study on 40 participants (20 with AMD and 20 controls) to reveal the location, extent, and dynamics of AMD-related brain changes. Voxel-based analyses at the first visit identified reduced volume in AMD participants in the cuneate gyrus, associated with vision, and the temporal and bilateral cingulate gyrus, linked to higher cognition and memory. The second visit occurred 2 years after the first and revealed that AMD participants had reduced cingulate and superior frontal gyrus volumes, as well as lower fractional anisotropy (FA) for the bilateral occipital lobe, including the visual and the superior frontal cortex. We detected faster rates of volume and FA reduction in AMD participants in the left temporal cortex. We identified inter-lingual and lingual-cerebellar connections as important differentiators in AMD participants. Bundle analyses revealed that the lingual gyrus had a lower streamline length in the AMD participants at the first visit, indicating a connection between retinal and brain health. FA differences in select inter-lingual and lingual cerebellar bundles at the second visit showed downstream effects of vision loss. Our analyses revealed widespread changes in AMD participants, beyond brain networks directly involved in vision processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques A. Stout
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
| | - Ali Mahzarnia
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Rui Dai
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Robert J. Anderson
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
| | - Scott Cousins
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - Jie Zhuang
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
| | - Eleonora M. Lad
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - Diane B. Whitaker
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
| | - David J. Madden
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Guy G. Potter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Heather E. Whitson
- Ophthalmology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (S.C.); (E.M.L.); (D.B.W.); (H.E.W.)
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alexandra Badea
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.A.S.); (J.Z.); (D.J.M.)
- Radiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.M.); (R.D.); (R.J.A.)
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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7
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Chaudhary S, Wong HK, Chen Y, Zhang S, Li CSR. Sex differences in the effects of individual anxiety state on regional responses to negative emotional scenes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3701951. [PMID: 38196586 PMCID: PMC10775373 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3701951/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Men and women are known to show differences in the incidence and clinical manifestations of mood and anxiety disorders. Many imaging studies have investigated the neural correlates of sex differences in emotion processing. However, it remains unclear how anxiety might impact emotion processing differently in men and women. Method We recruited 119 healthy adults and assessed their levels of anxiety using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) State score. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined regional responses to negative vs. neutral (Neg-Neu) picture matching in the Hariri task. Behavioral data were analyzed using regression and repeated-measures analysis of covariance with age as a covariate, and fMRI data were analyzed using a full-factorial model with sex as a factor and age as a covariate. Results Men and women did not differ in STAI score, or accuracy rate or reaction time (RT) (Neg-Neu). However, STAI scores correlated positively with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Additionally, in women, STAI score correlated positively with lingual gyrus (LG) and negatively with medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activity during Neg vs. Neu trials. The parameter estimates (β's) of mPFC also correlated with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis in women revealed mPFC connectivity with the right inferior frontal gyrus, right SFG, and left parahippocampal gyrus during Neg vs. Neu trials in positive correlation with both STAI score and RT (Neg-Neu). In a mediation analysis, mPFC gPPI but not mPFC activity fully mediated the association between STAI scores and RT (Neg-Neu). Conclusion With anxiety affecting the behavioral and neural responses to negative emotions in women but not in men and considering the known roles of the mPFC in emotion regulation, we discussed heightened sensitivity and regulatory demands during negative emotion processing as neurobehavioral markers of anxiety in women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Yale School of Medicine: Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Yale School of Medicine: Yale University School of Medicine
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8
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Paré S, Bleau M, Dricot L, Ptito M, Kupers R. Brain structural changes in blindness: a systematic review and an anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105165. [PMID: 37054803 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105165] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, numerous structural brain imaging studies investigated purported morphometric changes in early (EB) and late onset blindness (LB). The results of these studies have not yielded very consistent results, neither with respect to the type, nor to the anatomical locations of the brain morphometric alterations. To better characterize the effects of blindness on brain morphometry, we performed a systematic review and an Anatomical-Likelihood-Estimation (ALE) coordinate-based-meta-analysis of 65 eligible studies on brain structural changes in EB and LB, including 890 EB, 466 LB and 1257 sighted controls. Results revealed atrophic changes throughout the whole extent of the retino-geniculo-striate system in both EB and LB, whereas changes in areas beyond the occipital lobe occurred in EB only. We discuss the nature of some of the contradictory findings with respect to the used brain imaging methodologies and characteristics of the blind populations such as the onset, duration and cause of blindness. Future studies should aim for much larger sample sizes, eventually by merging data from different brain imaging centers using the same imaging sequences, opt for multimodal structural brain imaging, and go beyond a purely structural approach by combining functional with structural connectivity network analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Paré
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - Maxime Bleau
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - Laurence Dricot
- Institute of NeuroScience (IoNS), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Maurice Ptito
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ron Kupers
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada; Institute of NeuroScience (IoNS), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Bruxelles, Belgium; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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9
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Günther V, Strukova M, Pecher J, Webelhorst C, Engelmann S, Kersting A, Hoffmann KT, Egloff B, Okon-Singer H, Lobsien D, Suslow T. Cognitive Avoidance Is Associated with Decreased Brain Responsiveness to Threat Distractors under High Perceptual Load. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040618. [PMID: 37190583 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive coping strategies to deal with anxiety-provoking events have an impact on mental and physical health. Dispositional vigilance is characterized by an increased analysis of the threatening environment, whereas cognitive avoidance comprises strategies to inhibit threat processing. To date, functional neuroimaging studies on the neural underpinnings of these coping styles are scarce and have revealed discrepant findings. In the present study, we examined automatic brain responsiveness as a function of coping styles using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We administered a perceptual load paradigm with contemptuous and fearful faces as distractor stimuli in a sample of N = 43 healthy participants. The Mainz Coping Inventory was used to assess cognitive avoidance and vigilance. An association of cognitive avoidance with reduced contempt and fear processing under high perceptual load was observed in a widespread network including the amygdala, thalamus, cingulate gyrus, insula, and frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital areas. Our findings indicate that the dispositional tendency to divert one's attention away from distressing stimuli is a valuable predictor of diminished automatic neural responses to threat in several cortical and subcortical areas. A reduced processing in brain regions involved in emotion perception and attention might indicate a potential threat resilience associated with cognitive avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Günther
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mariia Strukova
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jonas Pecher
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Webelhorst
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Engelmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anette Kersting
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karl-Titus Hoffmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Boris Egloff
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hadas Okon-Singer
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3100000, Israel
| | - Donald Lobsien
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Suslow
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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10
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Deak A, Bodrogi B, Orsi G, Perlaki G, Bereczkei T. Emotional Intelligence Not Only Can Make Us Feel Negative, but Can Provide Cognitive Resources to Regulate It Effectively: An fMRI Study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:866933. [PMID: 35756244 PMCID: PMC9226432 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.866933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroscientists have formulated the model of emotional intelligence (EI) based on brain imaging findings of individual differences in EI. The main objective of our study was to operationalize the advantage of high EI individuals in emotional information processing and regulation both at behavioral and neural levels of investigation. We used a self-report measure and a cognitive reappraisal task to demonstrate the role of EI in emotional perception and regulation. Participants saw pictures with negative or neutral captions and shifted (reappraised) from negative context to neutral while we registered brain activation. Behavioral results showed that higher EI participants reported more unpleasant emotions. The Utilization of emotions scores negatively correlated with the valence ratings and the subjective difficulty of reappraisal. In the negative condition, we found activation in hippocampus (HC), parahippocampal gyrus, cingulate cortex, insula and superior temporal lobe. In the neutral context, we found elevated activation in vision-related areas and HC. During reappraisal (negative-neutral) condition, we found activation in the medial frontal gyrus, temporal areas, vision-related regions and in cingulate gyrus. We conclude that higher EI is associated with intensive affective experiences even if emotions are unpleasant. Strong skills in utilizing emotions enable one not to repress negative feelings but to use them as source of information. High EI individuals use effective cognitive processes such as directing attention to relevant details; have advantages in allocation of cognitive resources, in conceptualization of emotional scenes and in building emotional memories; they use visual cues, imagination and executive functions to regulate negative emotions effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Deak
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Barbara Bodrogi
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gergely Orsi
- ELKH-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gabor Perlaki
- ELKH-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamas Bereczkei
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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11
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Palejwala AH, Dadario NB, Young IM, O'Connor K, Briggs RG, Conner AK, O'Donoghue DL, Sughrue ME. Anatomy and White Matter Connections of the Lingual Gyrus and Cuneus. World Neurosurg 2021; 151:e426-e437. [PMID: 33894399 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The medial occipital lobe, composed of the lingual gyrus and cuneus, is necessary for both basic and higher level visual processing. It is also known to facilitate cross-modal, nonvisual functions, such as linguistic processing and verbal memory, after the loss of the visual senses. A detailed cortical model elucidating the white matter connectivity associated with this area could improve our understanding of the interacting brain networks that underlie complex human processes and postoperative outcomes related to vision and language. METHODS Generalized q-sampling imaging tractography, validated by gross anatomic dissection for qualitative visual agreement, was performed on 10 healthy adult controls obtained from the Human Connectome Project. RESULTS Major white matter connections were identified by tractography and validated by gross dissection, which connected the medial occipital lobe with itself and the adjacent cortices, especially the temporal lobe. The short- and long-range connections identified consisted mainly of U-shaped association fibers, intracuneal fibers, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, middle longitudinal fasciculus, and lingual-fusiform connections. CONCLUSIONS The medial occipital lobe is an extremely interconnected system, supporting its ability to perform coordinated basic visual processing, but also serves as a center for many long-range association fibers, supporting its importance in nonvisual functions, such as language and memory. The presented data represent clinically actionable anatomic information that can be used in multimodal navigation of white matter lesions in the medial occipital lobe to prevent neurologic deficits and improve patients' quality of life after cerebral surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali H Palejwala
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nicholas B Dadario
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Kyle O'Connor
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Robert G Briggs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Andrew K Conner
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Daniel L O'Donoghue
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Michael E Sughrue
- Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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12
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Roy B, Vacas S, Ehlert L, McCloy K, Saggar R, Kumar R. Brain Structural Changes in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. J Neuroimaging 2021; 31:524-531. [PMID: 33565204 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12840] [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: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) frequently present with anxiety, depression, autonomic, and cognitive deterioration, which may indicate brain changes in regions that control these functions. However, the precise regional brain-injury in sites that regulate cognitive, autonomic, and mood functions in PAH remains unclear. We examined the shifts in regional gray matter (GM) volume, using high-resolution T1-weighted images, and brain tissue alterations, using T2-relaxometry procedures, in PAH compared to healthy subjects. METHODS We collected two high-resolution T1-weighted series, and proton-density and T2-weighted images using a 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner from 9 PAH and 19 healthy subjects. Both high-resolution T1-weighted images were realigned and averaged, partitioned to GM tissue type, normalized to a common space, and smoothed. Using proton-density and T2-weighted images, T2-relaxation maps were calculated, normalized to a common space, and smoothed. Whole-brain GM volume and T2-relaxation maps were compared between PAH and controls using analysis of covariance (covariates, age, sex, and total-brain-volume; false discover rate corrections). RESULTS Significantly decreased GM volumes, indicating tissue injury, emerged in multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus, insula, cerebellum, parahippocampus, temporal, frontal, and occipital gyri, cingulate, amygdala, and thalamus. Higher T2-relaxation values, suggesting tissue damage, appeared in the cerebellum, hippocampus, parahippocampus, frontal, lingual, and temporal and occipital gyri, and cingulate areas in PAH compared to healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS PAH patients showed significant GM injury and brain tissue changes in sites that regulate cognition, autonomic, and mood functions. These findings indicate a brain structural basis for functional deficits in PAH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhaswati Roy
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Susana Vacas
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Luke Ehlert
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kathy McCloy
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Rajan Saggar
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Department of Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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13
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Frontotemporal dementia, music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits: A meta-analysis. Brain Cogn 2021; 148:105660. [PMID: 33421942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with profound changes in social cognition. Music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities, but underlying neurobiological substrates are unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies in FTD patients and functional MRI studies for music perception and social cognition tasks in cognitively normal controls to identify robust patterns of atrophy (FTD) or activation (music perception or social cognition). Conjunction analyses were performed to identify overlapping brain regions. In total 303 articles were included: 53 for FTD (n = 1153 patients, 42.5% female; 1337 controls, 53.8% female), 28 for music perception (n = 540, 51.8% female) and 222 for social cognition in controls (n = 5664, 50.2% female). We observed considerable overlap in atrophy patterns associated with FTD, and functional activation associated with music perception and social cognition, mostly encompassing the ventral language network. We further observed overlap across all three modalities in mesolimbic, basal forebrain and striatal regions. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits that are affected in FTD. This supports the idea that music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities with implications for diagnosis and monitoring.
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14
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A Scope of the Social Brain in Multiple Sclerosis: Insights From Neuroimaging Studies. Cogn Behav Neurol 2020; 33:90-102. [PMID: 32496294 DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory neurologic disease in young adults. Its pathological mechanisms include demyelination, neurodegeneration, and synaptopathy. Cognitive deficits occur in up to 65% of individuals with MS and affect both nonsocial (eg, information processing speed, memory, and executive functions) and social (ie, emotion recognition, theory of mind, and empathy) cognitive domains. In the last 3 decades, there has been a growing interest in social cognition and its relationship with neuropsychological, sociodemographic, and disease characteristics in individuals with MS. Uncovering the neuropathological correlates of social cognitive deficits is now a crucial aim that would also help us better understand the underlying mechanisms of social cognition. We reviewed 11 neuroimaging studies to investigate social cognition in MS. These studies focused mainly on facial emotion recognition and theory of mind, with the findings suggesting that a disrupted cortico-subcortical network forms the basis of social deficits involving both domains. We then interpreted these results in the context of multiple disconnection syndrome, which occurs as a result of axonal demyelination and degeneration within the connexome of several neural hubs devoted to social cognition. Heterogeneity in social cognitive performance, observed among our study participants, is discussed with reference to the cognitive reserve and brain reserve hypotheses. These reserves may explain why individuals with comparable clinical characteristics of MS may exhibit different cognitive profiles. Further research is required to generalize these findings to the MS population and to inform the development of effective interventions to improve psychosocial functioning in individuals with MS.
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15
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Kogler L, Müller VI, Werminghausen E, Eickhoff SB, Derntl B. Do I feel or do I know? Neuroimaging meta-analyses on the multiple facets of empathy. Cortex 2020; 129:341-355. [PMID: 32562973 PMCID: PMC7390692 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Empathy is a multidimensional construct including affective and cognitive components while maintaining the distinction between one-self and others. Our meta-analyses focused on shared and distinct networks underlying cognitive (taking somebody else's perspective in emotional/painful situations) and affective (self-referentially feeling somebody else's emotions/pain) empathy for various states including painful and emotional situations. Furthermore, a comparison with direct pain experience was carried out. For cognitive empathy, consistent activation in the anterior dorsal medial frontal gyrus (dmPFG) and the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) occurred. For affective empathy, convergent activation of the posterior dmPFG and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was found. Consistent activation of the anterior insula (AI), the anterior dmPFG and the SMG was observed for empathy for pain, while convergent recruitment of the temporo-parietal junction, precuneus, posterior dmPFG, and the IFG was revealed in the meta-analysis across empathy for emotion experiments. The AI and the dmPFG/mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) showed overlapping as well as distinct neural activation for pain processing and empathy for pain. Taken together, we were able to show difference in the meta-analytic networks across cognitive and affective empathy as well as for pain and empathy processing. Based on the current results, distinct functions along the midline structures of the brain during empathy processing are apparent. Our data are lending further support for a multidimensional concept of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Veronika I Müller
- Institute of Neuroscience und Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elena Werminghausen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience und Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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16
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Pitteri M, Genova H, Lengenfelder J, DeLuca J, Ziccardi S, Rossi V, Calabrese M. Social cognition deficits and the role of amygdala in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients without cognitive impairment. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2019; 29:118-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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17
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Mercadillo RE, Alcauter S, Barrios FA. Effects of primatological training on anthropomorphic valuations of emotions. IBRO Rep 2018; 5:54-59. [PMID: 30211338 PMCID: PMC6134357 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2018.09.001] [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: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropomorphism is a consequence of similarities between human and non-human animals. Primatologists use sensory and motor processes to infer primate emotional expressions. Training and experience influence anthropomorphic attributions made by primatologists. Experience is accompanied by functional plasticity of sensory and motor cortices.
Anthropomorphism implies the attribution of human like emotions and cognition to non-human animals. This tendency may be conditioned by similar morphologies between mammals and is particularly important in primatology. Some neurocognitive findings suggest that prefrontal brain activity associated to conceptual learning influences anthropomorphic judgments, nevertheless, individual differences are also presented indicating that training on primate behavior may influence anthropomorphism. We identified and interpreted brain activity registered by functional magnetic resonance imaging while seven trained primatologists (39.42 ± 10.86 yr.) inferred emotions in human primates, non-human primates and non-primate animals; comparisons were made with seven matched scholars with no primatological training (38.71 ± 9.34 yr.). Primatologists manifested cerebellar, occipital and frontal activity related to sensory and motor processes when valuating humans and non-human primates, but not for other animals. So, primatological training and experience may elicit brain plasticity processes allowing inner motor and sensory models through frontal and cerebellar interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto E Mercadillo
- Area of Neurosciences, Biology of Reproduction Department, CBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Leyes de Reforma 1ra Secc, 09340, Mexico City, Mexico.,Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sarael Alcauter
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Neurobiología, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Fernando A Barrios
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Neurobiología, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
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18
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Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the neural correlates of cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing behavior problems in adolescent bullies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 86:193-202. [PMID: 29885469 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to investigate the neural correlates of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for externalizing behavior problems in perpetrators of school bullying using assessments of brain activity and behavior. Twenty-five adolescent bullies participated in an 8-session intervention. Prior to and after participation, 24 adolescents were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and 23 completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Changes in the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and scores on the CBCL were analyzed. We also compared the identified changes into 2 groups (low and high delinquency) differentiated by a cutoff of 65 points on the delinquency subscale of the CBCL. Following the intervention, participants exhibited improvement in the subscores of the CBCL and decreases in the fALFF of the inferior parietal lobule, lingual, interior frontal and middle occipital gyrus. A positive correlation was observed between changes in the CBCL externalizing behavior scores and fALFF of the inferior frontal gyrus. The high delinquency group showed a greater decrease in delinquency and externalizing CBCL subscores across time than did the low delinquency group. The high delinquency group had more areas that showed change in fALFF post-intervention than did the low delinquency group. A positive correlation was observed between changes in the CBCL delinquency scores and fALFF of the precentral gyrus in the high delinquency group. The results indicate that this CBT for externalizing behavior problems in bullies had more positive effects on delinquent behavior in adolescents with high levels of delinquency, and these changes were associated with functional changes in brain activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02670876.
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19
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Varkevisser T, Gladwin TE, Heesink L, van Honk J, Geuze E. Resting-state functional connectivity in combat veterans suffering from impulsive aggression. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018; 12:1881-1889. [PMID: 29040723 PMCID: PMC5716169 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Impulsive aggression is common among military personnel after deployment and may arise because of impaired top-down regulation of the amygdala by prefrontal regions. This study sought to further explore this hypothesis via resting-state functional connectivity analyses in impulsively aggressive combat veterans. Male combat veterans with (n = 28) and without (n = 30) impulsive aggression problems underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Functional connectivity analyses were conducted with the following seed-regions: basolateral amygdala (BLA), centromedial amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and anterior insular cortex (AIC). Regions-of-interest analyses focused on the orbitofrontal cortex and periaqueductal gray, and yielded no significant results. In exploratory cluster analyses, we observed reduced functional connectivity between the (bilateral) BLA and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the impulsive aggression group, relative to combat controls. This finding indicates that combat-related impulsive aggression may be marked by weakened functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal regions, already in the absence of explicit emotional stimuli. Group differences in functional connectivity were also observed between the (bilateral) ACC and left cuneus, which may be related to heightened vigilance to potentially threatening visual cues, as well as between the left AIC and right temporal pole, possibly related to negative memory association in impulsive aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Varkevisser
- University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Research Center Military Mental Health Care, P.O. Box 90000, 3509 AA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas E Gladwin
- University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Research Center Military Mental Health Care, P.O. Box 90000, 3509 AA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Heesink
- University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Research Center Military Mental Health Care, P.O. Box 90000, 3509 AA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jack van Honk
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elbert Geuze
- University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Research Center Military Mental Health Care, P.O. Box 90000, 3509 AA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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20
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Dretsch MN, Daniel TA, Goodman AM, Katz JS, Denney T, Deshpande G, Robinson JL. Differential neural activation when voluntarily regulating emotions in service members with chronic mild traumatic brain injury. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2017; 26:76-88. [PMID: 28925716 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1362406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize the functional activation of the neural correlates of voluntary regulation of emotion in soldiers both with and without chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a battery of cognitive and psychological health measures, we assessed differences between active-duty U.S. soldiers with chronic mTBI (n = 37) and without (Controls, n = 35). Participants were instructed to maintain (passively view), enhance, and suppress emotions associated with negative and neutral visual stimuli. The mTBI group showed significantly greater clinical symptoms, but only a mild decrement in attention. Group contrasts, while controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, revealed a differential neural activation pattern compared to controls, but only during the enhance condition. Specifically, the mTBI group showed greater activation in the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobe, insula, and superior temporal gyrus. Finally, the effect of PTSD symptoms during the enhance condition was associated with accentuated activation of the frontal and limbic regions implicated in both emotion regulation and PTSD. Hyperactivation of neural regions in the mTBI group during the enhance condition may reflect vigilance towards negative contextual stimuli and/or poor strategy that might result in suboptimal allocation of resources to regulate emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael N Dretsch
- a US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory , Fort Rucker , Alabama , USA.,b Human Dimension Division , Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command , Fort Eustis , Virginia , USA
| | - Thomas A Daniel
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA
| | - Adam M Goodman
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Katz
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,d Auburn University MRI Research Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,e Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium , Auburn University and University of Alabama , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
| | - Thomas Denney
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,d Auburn University MRI Research Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,e Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium , Auburn University and University of Alabama , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
| | - Gopikrishna Deshpande
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,d Auburn University MRI Research Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,e Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium , Auburn University and University of Alabama , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
| | - Jennifer L Robinson
- c Department of Psychology , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,d Auburn University MRI Research Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering , Auburn University , Auburn , Alabama , USA.,e Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium , Auburn University and University of Alabama , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
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21
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Neural functional correlates of empathic face processing. Neurosci Lett 2017; 655:68-75. [PMID: 28673832 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Empathy is a human trait related to the ability to share someone else's feelings, and emotional face processing is one of its measures. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies showed significant neural correlates of empathic face processing. We aimed to identify those brain areas most consistently involved in empathy for emotional faces. METHODS We carried ALE meta-analysis of whole-brain data from fMRI studies during empathic face-processing tasks. We included 23 studies conducted on a total of 568 participants (247 males and 321 females, mean age 32.2 years). RESULTS Emotional vs. control faces processing significantly correlated with activations of the left anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32), right precentral gyrus (BA 6), left amygdala, right superior frontal gyrus (BA 9), left middle occipital gyrus (BA 37), right insula (BA 13), left putamen, and left posterior cingulate cortex (BA 31). CONCLUSIONS Empathy is a complex process correlating with bi-hemispheric cortico-limbic activations involved in emotional cue processing, self-other/same-different discrimination, perspective-taking, theory of mind, emotional arousal, and decision-making.
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22
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Soares JM, Magalhães R, Moreira PS, Sousa A, Ganz E, Sampaio A, Alves V, Marques P, Sousa N. A Hitchhiker's Guide to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:515. [PMID: 27891073 PMCID: PMC5102908 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies have become increasingly popular both with clinicians and researchers as they are capable of providing unique insights into brain functions. However, multiple technical considerations (ranging from specifics of paradigm design to imaging artifacts, complex protocol definition, and multitude of processing and methods of analysis, as well as intrinsic methodological limitations) must be considered and addressed in order to optimize fMRI analysis and to arrive at the most accurate and grounded interpretation of the data. In practice, the researcher/clinician must choose, from many available options, the most suitable software tool for each stage of the fMRI analysis pipeline. Herein we provide a straightforward guide designed to address, for each of the major stages, the techniques, and tools involved in the process. We have developed this guide both to help those new to the technique to overcome the most critical difficulties in its use, as well as to serve as a resource for the neuroimaging community.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
| | - Pedro S. Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
- Department of Informatics, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
| | - Edward Ganz
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
| | - Victor Alves
- Department of Informatics, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
| | - Paulo Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBraga, Portugal
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Nomi JS, Uddin LQ. Face processing in autism spectrum disorders: From brain regions to brain networks. Neuropsychologia 2015; 71:201-16. [PMID: 25829246 PMCID: PMC4506751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by reduced attention to social stimuli including the human face. This hypo-responsiveness to stimuli that are engaging to typically developing individuals may result from dysfunctioning motivation, reward, and attention systems in the brain. Here we review an emerging neuroimaging literature that emphasizes a shift from focusing on hypo-activation of isolated brain regions such as the fusiform gyrus, amygdala, and superior temporal sulcus in ASD to a more holistic approach to understanding face perception as a process supported by distributed cortical and subcortical brain networks. We summarize evidence for atypical activation patterns within brain networks that may contribute to social deficits characteristic of the disorder. We conclude by pointing to gaps in the literature and future directions that will continue to shed light on aspects of face processing in autism that are still under-examined. In particular, we highlight the need for more developmental studies and studies examining ecologically valid and naturalistic social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States.
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.
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24
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Mercadillo RE, Galvez V, Díaz R, Paredes L, Velázquez-Moctezuma J, Hernandez-Castillo CR, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Social and Cultural Elements Associated with Neurocognitive Dysfunctions in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 Patients. Front Psychiatry 2015; 6:90. [PMID: 26113822 PMCID: PMC4462049 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 (SCA2) is a rare genetic disorder producing cerebellar degeneration and affecting motor abilities. Neuroimaging studies also show neurodegeneration in subcortical and cortical regions related to emotional and social processes. From social neuroscience, it is suggested that motor and social abilities can be influenced by particular cultural dynamics so, culture is fundamental to understand the effect of brain-related alterations. Here, we present the first analysis about the cultural elements related to the SCA2 disorder in 15 patients previously evaluated with neuroimaging and psychometric instruments, and their nuclear relationships distributed in six geographical and cultural regions in Mexico. Ethnographic records and photographic and video archives about the quotidian participant's routine were obtained from the patients, their relatives and their caregivers. The information was categorized and interpreted taking into consideration cultural issues and patients' medical files. Our analyses suggest that most of the participants do not understand the nature of the disease and this misunderstanding favors magic and non-medical explanations. Patients' testimonies suggest a decrease in pain perception as well as motor alterations that may be related to interoceptive dysfunctions. Relatives' testimonies indicate patients' lack of social and emotional interests that may be related to frontal, temporal, and cerebellar degeneration. In general, participants use their religious beliefs to deal with the disease and only a few of them trust the health system. Patients and their families are either openly rejected and ignored, tolerated or even helped by their community accordingly to different regional traits. We propose that ethnography can provide social representations to understand the patients' alterations, to formulate neurobiological hypotheses, to develop neurocognitive interventions, and to improve the medical approach to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Emmanuele Mercadillo
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico ; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Cátedras , Mexico City , Mexico ; Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Víctor Galvez
- Posgrado en Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana , Xalapa , Mexico
| | - Rosalinda Díaz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Lorena Paredes
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Javier Velázquez-Moctezuma
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Carlos R Hernandez-Castillo
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Cátedras , Mexico City , Mexico ; Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana , Xalapa , Mexico
| | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico ; Posgrado en Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana , Xalapa , Mexico ; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Veracruzana , Xalapa , Mexico
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25
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Distinct structural neural patterns of trait physical and social anhedonia: evidence from cortical thickness, subcortical volumes and inter-regional correlations. Psychiatry Res 2014; 224:184-91. [PMID: 25288478 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Anhedonia is an enduring trait accounting for the reduced capacity to experience pleasure. Few studies have investigated the brain structural features associated with trait anhedonia. In this study, the relationships between cortical thickness, volume of subcortical structures and scores on the Chapman physical and social anhedonia scales were examined in a non-clinical sample (n=72, 35 males). FreeSurfer was used to examine the cortical thickness and the volume of six identified subcortical structures related to trait anhedonia. We found that the cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus and the volume of the pallidum in the left hemisphere were correlated with anhedonia scores in both physical and social aspects. Specifically, positive correlations were found between levels of social anhedonia and the thickness of the postcentral and the inferior parietal gyri. Cortico-subcortical inter-correlations between these clusters were also observed. Our findings revealed distinct correlation patterns of neural substrates with trait physical and social anhedonia in a non-clinical sample. These findings contribute to the understanding of the pathologies underlying the anhedonia phenotype in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.
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Mercadillo RE, Galvez V, Díaz R, Hernández-Castillo CR, Campos-Romo A, Boll MC, Pasaye EH, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Parahippocampal gray matter alterations in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 identified by voxel based morphometry. J Neurol Sci 2014; 347:50-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2014.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kim MY, James LR. Neurological Evidence for the Relationship between Suppression and Aggressive Behavior: Implications for Workplace Aggression. APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW-PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE-REVUE INTERNATIONALE 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/apps.12014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well known that individual factors are important in the facial recognition of pain. However, it is unclear whether vigilance to pain as a pain-related attentional mechanism is among these relevant factors. OBJECTIVES Vigilance to pain may have two different effects on the recognition of facial pain expressions: pain-vigilant individuals may detect pain faces better but overinclude other facial displays, misinterpreting them as expressing pain; or they may be true experts in discriminating between pain and other facial expressions. The present study aimed to test these two hypotheses. Furthermore, pain vigilance was assumed to be a distinct predictor, the impact of which on recognition cannot be completely replaced by related concepts such as pain catastrophizing and fear of pain. METHODS Photographs of neutral, happy, angry and pain facial expressions were presented to 40 healthy participants, who were asked to classify them into the appropriate emotion categories and provide a confidence rating for each classification. Additionally, potential predictors of the discrimination performance for pain and anger faces - pain vigilance, pain-related catastrophizing, fear of pain--were assessed using self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Pain-vigilant participants classified pain faces more accurately and did not misclassify anger as pain faces more frequently. However, vigilance to pain was not related to the confidence of recognition ratings. Pain catastrophizing and fear of pain did not account for the recognition performance. CONCLUSIONS Moderate pain vigilance, as assessed in the present study, appears to be associated with appropriate detection of pain-related cues and not necessarily with the overinclusion of other negative cues.
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de Greck M, Scheidt L, Bölter AF, Frommer J, Ulrich C, Stockum E, Enzi B, Tempelmann C, Hoffmann T, Han S, Northoff G. Altered brain activity during emotional empathy in somatoform disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2012; 33:2666-85. [PMID: 21998038 PMCID: PMC6870370 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2010] [Revised: 05/28/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatoform disorder patients suffer from impaired emotion recognition and other emotional deficits. Emotional empathy refers to the understanding and sharing of emotions of others in social contexts. It is likely that the emotional deficits of somatoform disorder patients are linked to disturbed empathic abilities; however, little is known so far about empathic deficits of somatoform patients and the underlying neural mechanisms. We used fMRI and an empathy paradigm to investigate 20 somatoform disorder patients and 20 healthy controls. The empathy paradigm contained facial pictures expressing anger, joy, disgust, and a neutral emotional state; a control condition contained unrecognizable stimuli. In addition, questionnaires testing for somatization, alexithymia, depression, empathy, and emotion recognition were applied. Behavioral results confirmed impaired emotion recognition in somatoform disorder and indicated a rather distinct pattern of empathic deficits of somatoform patients with specific difficulties in "empathic distress." In addition, somatoform patients revealed brain areas with diminished activity in the contrasts "all emotions"-"control," "anger"-"control," and "joy"-"control," whereas we did not find brain areas with altered activity in the contrasts "disgust"-"control" and "neutral"-"control." Significant clusters with less activity in somatoform patients included the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, the left amygdala, the left postcentral gyrus, the left superior temporal gyrus, the left posterior insula, and the bilateral cerebellum. These findings indicate that disturbed emotional empathy of somatoform disorder patients is linked to impaired emotion recognition and abnormal activity of brain regions responsible for emotional evaluation, emotional memory, and emotion generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz de Greck
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing 100871, China.
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30
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Quah-Smith I, Wen W, Chen X, Williams MA, Sachdev PS. The Brain Effects of Laser Acupuncture in Depressed Individuals: An fMRI Investigation. Med Acupunct 2012. [DOI: 10.1089/acu.2011.0870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Im Quah-Smith
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Wei Wen
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
- Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
- Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark A. Williams
- Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Perminder S. Sachdev
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
- Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
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31
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de Greck M, Wang G, Yang X, Wang X, Northoff G, Han S. Neural substrates underlying intentional empathy. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2012; 7:135-44. [PMID: 21511824 PMCID: PMC3277363 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsq093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 10/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although empathic responses to stimuli with emotional contents may occur automatically, humans are capable to intentionally empathize with other individuals. Intentional empathy for others is even possible when they do not show emotional expressions. However, little is known about the neuronal mechanisms of this intentionally controlled empathic process. To investigate the neuronal substrates underlying intentional empathy, we scanned 20 healthy Chinese subjects, using fMRI, when they tried to feel inside the emotional states of neutral or angry faces of familiar (Asian) and unfamiliar (Caucasian) models. Skin color evaluation of the same stimuli served as a control task. Compared to a baseline condition, the empathy task revealed a network of established empathy regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral inferior frontal cortex and bilateral anterior insula. The contrast of intentional empathy vs skin color evaluation, however, revealed three regions: the bilateral inferior frontal cortex, whose hemodynamic responses were independent of perceived emotion and familiarity and the right-middle temporal gyrus, whose activity was modulated by emotion but not by familiarity. These findings extend our understanding of the role of the inferior frontal cortex and the middle temporal gyrus in empathy by demonstrating their involvement in intentional empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz de Greck
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Xuedong Yang
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Georg Northoff
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Shihui Han
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Canada
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32
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Liakakis G, Nickel J, Seitz R. Diversity of the inferior frontal gyrus—A meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Behav Brain Res 2011; 225:341-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2011] [Revised: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Seitz RJ, Gaebel W, Zielasek J. Modular networks involving the medial frontal cortex: towards the development of neuropsychiatry. World J Biol Psychiatry 2011; 12:249-59. [PMID: 21155633 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2010.541284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The pathophysiology of mental disorders is largely unresolved. We propose that the identification of abnormalities in brain modular networks will provide a promising approach for the understanding of mental disorders. METHODS We review the current discussion on the neuroscientific basis of psychiatric diseases and review recent studies in functional neuroimaging and systems physiology on mental functions of the human brain. RESULTS We propose that brain functional units are organized in modular networks. Modular networks allow for flexibility within the modular processing units and across interconnected modules affording optimization of task performance and deficit compensation in disease. As an example it will be shown that differentiated modules in medial frontal cortex play a critical role for the control of behaviour. This will be contrasted to recent studies in neurological and psychiatric patients revealing behavioural abnormalities due to lesions or reversibly deprived functions in the medial frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS These findings are conceptualized as starting points for a neuroscience based diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases at the border of psychiatry and neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger J Seitz
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
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34
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Mercadillo RE, Arias NA. Violence and compassion: a bioethical insight into their cognitive bases and social manifestations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 61:221-32. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2451.2011.01759.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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35
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Sabatinelli D, Fortune EE, Li Q, Siddiqui A, Krafft C, Oliver WT, Beck S, Jeffries J. Emotional perception: meta-analyses of face and natural scene processing. Neuroimage 2010; 54:2524-33. [PMID: 20951215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 469] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Revised: 09/10/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional imaging studies of emotional processing typically contain neutral control conditions that serve to remove simple effects of visual perception, thus revealing the additional emotional process. Here we seek to identify similarities and differences across 100 studies of emotional face processing and 57 studies of emotional scene processing, using a coordinate-based meta-analysis technique. The overlay of significant meta-analyses resulted in extensive overlap in clusters, coupled with offset and unique clusters of reliable activity. The area of greatest overlap is the amygdala, followed by regions of medial prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal/orbitofrontal cortex, inferior temporal cortex, and extrastriate occipital cortex. Emotional face-specific clusters were identified in regions known to be involved in face processing, including anterior fusiform gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, and emotional scene studies were uniquely associated with lateral occipital cortex, as well as pulvinar and the medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. One global result of the meta-analysis reveals that a class of visual stimuli (faces vs. scenes) has a considerable impact on the resulting emotion effects, even after removing the basic visual perception effects through subtractive contrasts. Pure effects of emotion may thus be difficult to remove for the particular class of stimuli employed in an experimental paradigm. Whether a researcher chooses to tightly control the various elements of the emotional stimuli, as with posed face photographs, or allow variety and environmental realism into their evocative stimuli, as with natural scenes, will depend on the desired generalizability of their results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean Sabatinelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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36
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Jäncke L, Sandmann P. Music listening while you learn: no influence of background music on verbal learning. Behav Brain Funct 2010; 6:3. [PMID: 20180945 PMCID: PMC2828975 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-6-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2009] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Whether listening to background music enhances verbal learning performance is still disputed. In this study we investigated the influence of listening to background music on verbal learning performance and the associated brain activations. Methods Musical excerpts were composed for this study to ensure that they were unknown to the subjects and designed to vary in tempo (fast vs. slow) and consonance (in-tune vs. out-of-tune). Noise was used as control stimulus. 75 subjects were randomly assigned to one of five groups and learned the presented verbal material (non-words with and without semantic connotation) with and without background music. Each group was exposed to one of five different background stimuli (in-tune fast, in-tune slow, out-of-tune fast, out-of-tune slow, and noise). As dependent variable, the number of learned words was used. In addition, event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS) of the EEG alpha-band were calculated as a measure for cortical activation. Results We did not find any substantial and consistent influence of background music on verbal learning. There was neither an enhancement nor a decrease in verbal learning performance during the background stimulation conditions. We found however a stronger event-related desynchronization around 800 - 1200 ms after word presentation for the group exposed to in-tune fast music while they learned the verbal material. There was also a stronger event-related synchronization for the group exposed to out-of-tune fast music around 1600 - 2000 ms after word presentation. Conclusion Verbal learning during the exposure to different background music varying in tempo and consonance did not influence learning of verbal material. There was neither an enhancing nor a detrimental effect on verbal learning performance. The EEG data suggest that the different acoustic background conditions evoke different cortical activations. The reason for these different cortical activations is unclear. The most plausible reason is that when background music draws more attention verbal learning performance is kept constant by the recruitment of compensatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Jäncke
- Department of Neuropsychology, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
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37
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Seitz RJ, Franz M, Azari NP. Value judgments and self-control of action: the role of the medial frontal cortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 60:368-78. [PMID: 19285106 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2009.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2008] [Revised: 01/30/2009] [Accepted: 02/25/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Humans generate actions in relation to perceived events in the environment. Events are valuated in terms of subjective (personal) relevance or meaning, i.e. "what does this mean to me?". Similarly, making sense or gaining meaning from sensations (i.e., "perception") from one's own body and of mental images, such as memories or intentions, involves valuation from a subjective perspective. Here, we review recent findings in neurophysiology and neuroimaging suggesting that the medial frontal cortex comprises cortical relay nodes that afford the attribution of self-relevant, immediate and intuitive (implicit) meaning. In addition, we describe recent data that suggest that the medial frontal cortex participates also in the explicit appraisal of certain stimuli, namely, emotional face expressions, occurring as early as 150 ms following the stimulus. We propose that the medial frontal cortex subserves egocentric "value" judgments (both implicit and explicit), which are critical for self-control of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger J Seitz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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