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Processing of a simple aversive conditioned stimulus in a divided visual field paradigm: an fMRI study

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Abstract

A left visual hemifield advantage for the processing of negative facial expressions has been demonstrated in a variety of studies. We tested whether the same effect is found for a neutral facial expression that had acquired a negative meaning through pairing with an aversive event. Startle reflex amplitudes, skin-conductance responses (SCR), and two verbal measures of affect (negative valence and arousal) were significantly increased after pairing, but no stimulation side by pairing interaction was observed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed a significant increase of BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and the right frontal opercular region (RFOP). MPFC activity was correlated with psychophysiological and verbal emotional responses across subjects and, like these responses, was independent of the stimulation side. In contrast, RFOP activity was significantly stronger during left than during right hemifield stimulation but did not correlate with psychophysiological or verbal measures of negative affect. These results suggest that emotional responses to an aversive conditioned expressively neutral face are similar in both visual hemifields. MPFC activity seems to be closely linked to the strength of these responses.

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Acknowledgement

This study was partly supported by the Junior Science Program of the Heidelberger Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Gartenstrasse 29, 72074, Tübingen, Germany

    Silke Anders, Martin Lotze & Niels Birbaumer

  2. Department of General Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany

    Silke Anders & Dirk Wildgruber

  3. Section of Experimental MR of the CNS, Department of Neuroradiology, University of Tübingen, Germany

    Michael Erb & Wolfgang Grodd

Authors
  1. Silke Anders
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  2. Martin Lotze
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  3. Dirk Wildgruber
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  4. Michael Erb
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  5. Wolfgang Grodd
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  6. Niels Birbaumer
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Correspondence to Silke Anders.

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Anders, S., Lotze, M., Wildgruber, D. et al. Processing of a simple aversive conditioned stimulus in a divided visual field paradigm: an fMRI study. Exp Brain Res 162, 213–219 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-004-2145-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-004-2145-1

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