Neural circuitry for accurate identification of facial emotions

Brain Research
James LougheadRaquel E Gur

Abstract

Converging studies have revealed neural circuits for emotion processing, yet none has related activation to identification accuracy. We report a hybrid (block and event-related) fMRI study in 17 healthy adults, which permitted performance-based analysis. As in earlier studies, blocked analysis of the facial emotion identification task showed activation of amygdala, fusiform, thalamus, inferior and midfrontal regions. However, an event-related analysis of target stimuli demonstrated time locked activation associated with correct identification of happy, sad, angry and fearful faces. Overall, correct detection of angry and fearful faces was associated with greater activation compared to incorrect responses, especially in the amygdala and fusiform gyrus. The opposite was observed for happy and sad faces, where greater thalamic and midfrontal activation portended incorrect responses. Results indicate that the fusiform cortex and amygdala respond differentially in the four target conditions (happy, sad, angry and fearful) along the dimension of threat-relatedness.

References

Jul 1, 1991·Magnetic Resonance in Medicine : Official Journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine·P Webb, A Macovski
Jul 1, 1995·Magnetic Resonance in Medicine : Official Journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine·P Jezzard, R S Balaban
Apr 2, 1998·Psychiatry Research·F SchneiderR C Gur
Apr 29, 1998·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·J S MorrisR J Dolan
Jun 9, 2000·Annual Review of Neuroscience·J E LeDoux
Nov 15, 2001·NeuroImage·M W WoolrichS M Smith
Oct 23, 2002·Human Brain Mapping·Stephen M Smith
Nov 27, 2002·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Raquel E GurRuben C Gur
Mar 20, 2003·Biological Psychiatry·Ahmad R HaririDaniel R Weinberger
May 13, 2003·Nature Neuroscience·Patrik VuilleumierRaymond J Dolan
Dec 16, 2003·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Fionnuala C MurphyAndrew D Lawrence
Apr 15, 2004·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Elizabeth A Phelps
May 18, 2004·Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews·Daan BaasRené S Kahn
Sep 15, 2004·Neuron·Elizabeth A PhelpsJoseph E LeDoux
Dec 18, 2004·Science·Paul J WhalenTom Johnstone
Jan 7, 2005·Nature·Patrik Vuilleumier
Jan 7, 2005·Nature·Ralph AdolphsAntonio R Damasio
Dec 22, 2005·NeuroImage·Daniel A FitzgeraldK Luan Phan
Feb 21, 2006·NeuroImage·Jennifer C BrittonIsrael Liberzon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 26, 2010·Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·James W LougheadRuben C Gur
Apr 22, 2009·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·Romina PalermoLaurie Miller
Nov 18, 2008·Schizophrenia Bulletin·Cameron S CarterKevin Ochsner
Apr 22, 2011·Addiction Biology·James LougheadCaryn Lerman
Nov 6, 2008·PloS One·Miriam DyckKlaus Mathiak
Apr 19, 2013·Psychological Research·Manuel G CalvoLauri Nummenmaa
Apr 12, 2013·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Nils KohnUte Habel
Nov 27, 2015·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics : the Official Publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics·Ruben C Gur, Raquel E Gur
May 24, 2011·Brain and Cognition·Theodore D SatterthwaiteJames Loughead
Nov 30, 2010·Schizophrenia Research·Amy E PinkhamRuben C Gur
Jul 29, 2008·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Ralph Adolphs
Jun 17, 2009·Human Brain Mapping·Theodore D SatterthwaiteJames Loughead
Sep 21, 2011·Human Brain Mapping·Justin F MonroeJ Christopher Edgar
Jul 25, 2013·Neuropsychologia·Manuel G Calvo, David Beltrán
Feb 19, 2013·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Jia HuangRaymond C K Chan
Oct 11, 2011·NeuroImage·Moritz de GreckShihui Han
Jul 20, 2010·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·Cecilia BourkeRichard Porter
Jul 20, 2013·The Spanish Journal of Psychology·Andrés Fernández-MartínManuel G Calvo
Aug 4, 2019·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Emre H KaleMetehan Çiçek
Apr 1, 2020·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Mareike Bacha-TramsIiro P Jääskeläinen
Sep 22, 2020·Brain and Neuroscience Advances·Laurel S MorrisJames W Murrough

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cajal Bodies & Gems

Cajal bodies or coiled bodies are dense foci of coilin protein. Gemini of Cajal bodies, or gems, are microscopically similar to Cajal bodies. It is believed that Cajal bodies play important roles in RNA processing while gems assist the Cajal bodies. Find the latest research on Cajal bodies and gems here.

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Amygdala: Sensory Processes

Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.