Publication

A 7 tesla FMRI study of amygdala responses to fearful faces

Abstract

The amygdalae are involved in the perception of emotions such as happiness, anger and fear. Because of their proximity to the sinuses, the image signal intensity in T2* weighted fMRI data is often affected by signal loss due to through-slice dephasing, especially at high field strength. In this study, the feasibility of fMRI in the amygdalae at 7 Tesla was investigated. A paradigm based on the presentation of fearful faces was used for stimulation. Previously, opposite effects have been found for presentation of averted and direct gaze fearful faces. Here, we show that (1) sufficiently high temporal SNR values are reached in the amygdalae for detection of small BOLD signal changes and (2) that the BOLD signal in the amygdalae for presentation of a direct or averted gaze in a fearful face depends on stimulus duration.

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Related concepts (31)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional MRI (fMRI) measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. This technique relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled. When an area of the brain is in use, blood flow to that region also increases. The primary form of fMRI uses the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast, discovered by Seiji Ogawa in 1990.
Amygdala
The amygdala (əˈmɪɡdələ; : amygdalae əˈmɪɡdəli,_-laɪ or amygdalas; also corpus amygdaloideum; Latin from Greek, ἀμυγδαλή, amygdalē, 'almond', 'tonsil') is one of two almond-shaped clusters of nuclei located deep and medially within the temporal lobes of the brain's cerebrum in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown to perform a primary role in the processing of memory, decision making, and emotional responses (including fear, anxiety, and aggression), the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.
Startle response
In animals, including humans, the startle response is a largely unconscious defensive response to sudden or threatening stimuli, such as sudden noise or sharp movement, and is associated with negative affect. Usually the onset of the startle response is a startle reflex reaction. The startle reflex is a brainstem reflectory reaction (reflex) that serves to protect vulnerable parts, such as the back of the neck (whole-body startle) and the eyes (eyeblink) and facilitates escape from sudden stimuli.
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