The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector
Although the development of functional imaging techniques has established the implication of the amygdala in the emotional process, its specific role remains controversial. The aim of this study was to highlight the sensitivity of the amygdala to emotional intensity (arousal). We conducted an analys...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00178/full |
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| author | Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Alexandre eComte Alexandre eComte Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Jean-louis eMillot Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos |
| author_facet | Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Alexandre eComte Alexandre eComte Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Jean-louis eMillot Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos |
| author_sort | Louise eBonnet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although the development of functional imaging techniques has established the implication of the amygdala in the emotional process, its specific role remains controversial. The aim of this study was to highlight the sensitivity of the amygdala to emotional intensity (arousal). We conducted an analysis of the modulation of amygdala activation according to variation in emotional intensity via an fMRI event-related protocol. Monitoring of electrodermal activity, a marker of psychophysiological emotional perception and which reflects the activation of the autonomic nervous system, was carried out concurrently. Eighteen subjects (10 men; aged from 22 to 29 years) looked at emotionally positive photographs. We demonstrated that the left and right amygdalae were sensitive to changes in emotional intensity, activating more in response to stimuli with higher intensity. Furthermore, electrodermal responses were more frequent for the most intense stimuli, demonstrating the concomitant activation of the autonomic nervous system. These results highlight the sensitivity of the amygdala to the intensity of positively-valenced visual stimuli, and in conjunction with results in the literature on negative emotions, reinforce the role of the amygdala in the perception of intensity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:53:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f41d91c0a3f94215974ce9ed21835f91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-f41d91c0a3f94215974ce9ed21835f912022-12-21T19:30:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience1662-51532015-07-01910.3389/fnbeh.2015.00178140610The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detectorLouise eBonnet0Louise eBonnet1Louise eBonnet2Alexandre eComte3Alexandre eComte4Laurent eTatu5Laurent eTatu6Laurent eTatu7Jean-louis eMillot8Thierry eMoulin9Thierry eMoulin10Thierry eMoulin11Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos12Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos13Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos14Besancon University HospitalBesançon University HospitalLaboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Besançon University HospitalLaboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Besancon University HospitalBesançon University HospitalLaboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Laboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Besancon University HospitalBesançon University HospitalLaboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Besancon University HospitalBesançon University HospitalLaboratory of Intergrative and Clinical Neuroscience (SFR FED 4234, EA-481)Although the development of functional imaging techniques has established the implication of the amygdala in the emotional process, its specific role remains controversial. The aim of this study was to highlight the sensitivity of the amygdala to emotional intensity (arousal). We conducted an analysis of the modulation of amygdala activation according to variation in emotional intensity via an fMRI event-related protocol. Monitoring of electrodermal activity, a marker of psychophysiological emotional perception and which reflects the activation of the autonomic nervous system, was carried out concurrently. Eighteen subjects (10 men; aged from 22 to 29 years) looked at emotionally positive photographs. We demonstrated that the left and right amygdalae were sensitive to changes in emotional intensity, activating more in response to stimuli with higher intensity. Furthermore, electrodermal responses were more frequent for the most intense stimuli, demonstrating the concomitant activation of the autonomic nervous system. These results highlight the sensitivity of the amygdala to the intensity of positively-valenced visual stimuli, and in conjunction with results in the literature on negative emotions, reinforce the role of the amygdala in the perception of intensity.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00178/fullAmygdalaemotionfMRIelectrodermal responseIAPSemotional intensity |
| spellingShingle | Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Louise eBonnet Alexandre eComte Alexandre eComte Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Laurent eTatu Jean-louis eMillot Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Thierry eMoulin Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos Elisabeth eMedeiros de Bustos The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience Amygdala emotion fMRI electrodermal response IAPS emotional intensity |
| title | The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector |
| title_full | The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector |
| title_fullStr | The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector |
| title_short | The role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions: an intensity detector |
| title_sort | role of the amygdala in the perception of positive emotions an intensity detector |
| topic | Amygdala emotion fMRI electrodermal response IAPS emotional intensity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00178/full |
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