Kaffenberger T, Baumgartner T, Koeneke S, Jäncke L, Herwig U.
Neuroreport, 19, 777-781
The quick identification of potentially threatening events is a crucial cognitive capacity to survive in a changing environment. Previous functional MRI data revealed the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the region of the left intraparietal sulcus (IPS) to be involved in the perception of emotionally negative stimuli. For assessing chronometric aspects of emotion processing, we applied transcranial magnetic stimulation above these areas at different times after negative and neutral picture presentation. An interference with emotion processing was found with transcranial magnetic stimulation above the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex 200-300 ms and above the left intraparietal sulcus 240/260 ms after negative stimuli. The data suggest a parallel and conjoint involvement of prefrontal and parietal areas for the identification of emotionally negative stimuli.
Showing posts with label tms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tms. Show all posts
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
ARTICLE UPDATE - Fearful faces selectively increase corticospinal motor tract excitability: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study.
Schutter DJ, Hofman D, Van Honk J.
Psychophysiology, in press
Fearful facial expressions are danger signals that rapidly trigger a cascade of neurobiological processes defensibly associated with action preparation. However, direct evidence for the activating effects of fearful facial expressions on the motor system is absent. The current transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study investigated whether fearful facial expressions selectively increase corticospinal motor tract (CST) excitability. Focal TMS was applied over the left primary motor cortex during the exposure of fearful, happy, and neutral facial expressions in 12 healthy right-handed volunteers. Changes in CST excitability using the motor evoked potential (MEP) were recorded. Results showed significant selective increases in MEP to fearful facial expressions. These findings provide the first direct evidence for selective increases in CST excitability to threat and contribute to evolutionary views on emotion and action preparedness.
Psychophysiology, in press
Fearful facial expressions are danger signals that rapidly trigger a cascade of neurobiological processes defensibly associated with action preparation. However, direct evidence for the activating effects of fearful facial expressions on the motor system is absent. The current transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study investigated whether fearful facial expressions selectively increase corticospinal motor tract (CST) excitability. Focal TMS was applied over the left primary motor cortex during the exposure of fearful, happy, and neutral facial expressions in 12 healthy right-handed volunteers. Changes in CST excitability using the motor evoked potential (MEP) were recorded. Results showed significant selective increases in MEP to fearful facial expressions. These findings provide the first direct evidence for selective increases in CST excitability to threat and contribute to evolutionary views on emotion and action preparedness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)