scholarly journals Soothing the emotional brain: modulation of neural activity to personal emotional stimulation by social touch

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1179-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Kraus ◽  
Andreas Frick ◽  
Robert Roman ◽  
Lenka Jurkovičová ◽  
Radek Mareček ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Anterior Insula ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
Physical Touch ◽  
Connectivity Strength

Abstract Social touch may modulate emotions, but the neurobehavioral correlates are poorly understood. Here, we investigated neural responses to a picture of a deceased close person and if neural activity and connectivity are modulated by social touch from one’s romantic partner. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found altered reactivity in several brain areas including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insula in response to the personal picture compared to a picture of an unfamiliar person. Hand holding with the romantic partner, compared to being alone, reduced reactivity in the ACC and cerebellum and provided subjective comfort. To separate physical touch from the emotional effect of partner presence, we evaluated hand holding with the partner relative to a stranger and found reduced reactivity in the anterior insula. Connectivity between the anterior insula and the ACC was reduced during partner touch, and the connectivity strength was negatively related to attachment security, with higher reported partner security associated with weaker connectivity. Overall, holding hands with one’s partner attenuates reactivity in emotional brain areas and reduces between-region connectivity.

Neural responses during down-regulation of negative emotion in patients with recently diagnosed bipolar disorder and their unaffected relatives

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hanne Lie Kjærstad ◽  
Julian Macoveanu ◽  
Gitte Moos Knudsen ◽  
Sophia Frangou ◽  
K. Luan Phan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Down Regulation

Abstract Background Aberrant emotion regulation has been posited as a putative endophenotype of bipolar disorder (BD). We therefore aimed to compare the neural responses during voluntary down-regulation of negative emotions in a large functional magnetic resonance imaging study of BD, patients' unaffected first-degree relatives (URs), and healthy controls (HCs). Methods We compared neural activity and fronto-limbic functional connectivity during emotion regulation in response to aversive v. neutral pictures in patients recently diagnosed with BD (n = 78) in full/partial remission, their URs (n = 35), and HCs (n = 56). Results Patients showed hypo-activity in the left dorsomedial, dorsolateral, and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (DMPFC and DLPFC) during emotion regulation while viewing aversive pictures compared to HCs, with URs displaying intermediate neural activity in these regions. There were no significant differences between patients with BD and HCs in functional connectivity from the amygdala during emotion regulation. However, exploratory analysis indicated that URs displayed more negative amygdala–DMPFC coupling compared with HCs and more negative amygdala-cingulate DLPFC coupling compared to patients with BD. At a behavioral level, patients and their URs were less able to dampen negative emotions in response aversive pictures. Conclusions The findings point to deficient recruitment of prefrontal resources and more negative fronto-amygdala coupling as neural markers of impaired emotion regulation in recently diagnosed remitted patients with BD and their URs, respectively.

scholarly journals Distinction of self-produced touch and social touch at cortical and spinal cord levels

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 2290-2299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Boehme ◽  
Steven Hauser ◽  
Gregory J. Gerling ◽  
Markus Heilig ◽  
Håkan Olausson
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Differential Encoding ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
Tactile Stimuli ◽  
The Individual

Differentiation between self-produced tactile stimuli and touch by others is necessary for social interactions and for a coherent concept of “self.” The mechanisms underlying this distinction are unknown. Here, we investigated the distinction between self- and other-produced light touch in healthy volunteers using three different approaches: fMRI, behavioral testing, and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) at spinal and cortical levels. Using fMRI, we found self–other differentiation in somatosensory and sociocognitive areas. Other-touch was related to activation in several areas, including somatosensory cortex, insula, superior temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, striatum, amygdala, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex. During self-touch, we instead found deactivation in insula, anterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal gyrus, amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, and prefrontal areas. Deactivation extended into brain areas encoding low-level sensory representations, including thalamus and brainstem. These findings were replicated in a second cohort. During self-touch, the sensorimotor cortex was functionally connected to the insula, and the threshold for detection of an additional tactile stimulus was elevated. Differential encoding of self- vs. other-touch during fMRI correlated with the individual self-concept strength. In SEP, cortical amplitudes were reduced during self-touch, while latencies at cortical and spinal levels were faster for other-touch. We thus demonstrated a robust self–other distinction in brain areas related to somatosensory, social cognitive, and interoceptive processing. Signs of this distinction were evident at the spinal cord. Our results provide a framework for future studies in autism, schizophrenia, and emotionally unstable personality disorder, conditions where symptoms include social touch avoidance and poor self-vs.-other discrimination.

scholarly journals Oxytocin increases the pleasantness of affective touch and orbitofrontal cortex activity independent of valence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanshu Chen ◽  
Benjamin Becker ◽  
Yingying Zhang ◽  
Han Cui ◽  
Jun Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Anterior Insula ◽  
Affiliative Behavior ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Affective Touch ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
C Fibers ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Male Subjects

AbstractTouch plays a crucial role in affiliative behavior and social communication. The neuropeptide oxytocin is released in response to touch and may act to facilitate the rewarding effects of social touch. However, no studies to date have determined whether oxytocin facilitates behavioral or neural responses to non-socially administered affective touch and possible differential effects of touch valence. In a functional MRI experiment using a randomized placebo-controlled, within-subject design in 40 male subjects we investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24IU) on behavioral and neural responses to positive, neutral and negative valence touch administered to the arm via different types of materials at a frequency aimed to optimally stimulate C-fibers. Results showed that oxytocin significantly increased both the perceived pleasantness of touch and activation of the orbitofrontal cortex independent of touch valence. The effects of OT on touch-evoked orbitofrontal activation were also positively associated with basal oxytocin concentrations in blood. Additionally, anterior insula activity and the functional connectivity between the amygdala and right anterior insula were enhanced only in response to negative valence touch. Overall, the present study provides the first evidence that oxytocin may facilitate the rewarding effects of all types of touch, irrespective of valence.

scholarly journals Controllability over stressor decreases responses in key threat-related brain areas

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chirag Limbachia ◽  
Kelly Morrow ◽  
Anastasiia Khibovska ◽  
Christian Meyer ◽  
Srikanth Padmala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Anterior Insula ◽  
Stria Terminalis ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Bed Nucleus ◽  
Posterior Insula ◽  
Brain And Behavior ◽  
And Behavior

AbstractControllability over stressors has major impacts on brain and behavior. In humans, however, the effect of controllability on responses to stressors is poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated how controllability altered responses to a shock-plus-sound stressor with a between-group yoked design, where participants in controllable and uncontrollable groups experienced matched stressor exposure. Employing Bayesian multilevel analysis at the level of regions of interest and voxels in the insula, and standard voxelwise analysis, we found that controllability decreased stressor-related responses across threat-related regions, notably in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and anterior insula. Posterior cingulate cortex, posterior insula, and possibly medial frontal gyrus showed increased responses during control over stressor. Our findings support the idea that the aversiveness of stressors is reduced when controllable, leading to decreased responses across key regions involved in anxiety-related processing, even at the level of the extended amygdala.

scholarly journals Neural responses in the pain matrix when observing pain of others are unaffected by testosterone administration

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Heany ◽  
David Terburg ◽  
Dan J. Stein ◽  
Jack van Honk ◽  
Peter A. Bos
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Affective Empathy ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Pain Matrix ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Empathy For Pain ◽  
Testosterone Administration ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTThere is evidence of testosterone having deteriorating effects on cognitive and affective empathy. However, whether testosterone influences core affective empathy, that is empathy for pain, has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we tested neural responses to witnessing others in pain in a within-subject placebo controlled testosterone administration study. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging we provide affirming evidence that the empathy inducing paradigm causes changes in the activity throughout the pain circuitry, including the bilateral insula and anterior cingulate cortex. Administration of testosterone however did not influence these activation patterns in the pain matrix. Testosterone has thus downregulating effects on aspects of empathic behaviour, but based on these data does not seem to influence neural responses during core empathy for pain. This finding gives more insight into the role of testosterone in human empathy.

scholarly journals The Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Touch in the Form of Massage

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanshu Chen ◽  
Qin Li ◽  
Qianqian Zhang ◽  
Juan Kou ◽  
Yingying Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Inferior Parietal Lobule ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Motor Processing ◽  
Social Touch

Manually-administered massage can potently increase endogenous oxytocin concentrations and neural activity in social cognition and reward regions and intranasal oxytocin can increase the pleasantness of social touch. In the present study, we investigated whether intranasal oxytocin modulates behavioral and neural responses to foot massage applied manually or by machine using a randomized placebo-controlled within-subject pharmaco-fMRI design. 46 male participants underwent blocks of massage of each type where they both received and imagined receiving the massage. Intranasal oxytocin significantly increased subjective pleasantness ratings of the manual but not the machine massage and neural responses in key regions involved in reward (orbitofrontal cortex, dorsal striatum and ventral tegmental area), social cognition (superior temporal sulcus and inferior parietal lobule), emotion and salience (amygdala and anterior cingulate and insula) and default mode networks (medial prefrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, posterior cingulate, and precuneus) as well as a number of sensory and motor processing regions. Both neural and behavioral effects of oxytocin occurred independent of whether subjects thought the massage was applied by a male or female masseur. These findings support the importance of oxytocin for enhancing positive behavioral and neural responses to social touch in the form of manually administered massage and that a combination of intranasal oxytocin and massage may have therapeutic potential in autism.Clinical Trials RegistrationThe Effects of Oxytocin on Social Touch; registration ID: NCT03278860; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03278860.

Neural reward processing in individuals remitted from major depression

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (16) ◽  
pp. 3549-3558 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Ubl ◽  
C. Kuehner ◽  
P. Kirsch ◽  
M. Ruttorf ◽  
H. Flor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Harm Avoidance ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Novelty Seeking ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Reward Anticipation ◽  
Evaluative Processes

Background.Dysfunctional behavioural and neural processing of reward has been found in currently depressed individuals. However, little is known about altered reward processing in remitted depressed individuals.Method.A total of 23 medication-free individuals with remitted major depressive disorder (rMDD) and 23 matched healthy controls (HCs) performed a reward task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. We also investigated reward dependence, novelty seeking and harm avoidance using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and their association with neural responses of reward processing.Results.Compared to HCs, individuals with rMDD exhibited enhanced responses to reward-predicting cues in the hippocampus, amygdala and superior frontal gyrus. When reward was delivered, rMDD subjects did not significantly differ from HCs. In both groups neural activity during reward anticipation was negatively correlated with harm avoidance.Conclusions.Our results show that rMDD is characterized by hyperactivation in fronto-limbic regions during reward anticipation. Alterations in neural activation during reward processing might reflect an increased effort in remitted depressed individuals to allocate neural activity for executive and evaluative processes during anticipatory reward processing.

scholarly journals Laughter is in the air: involvement of key nodes of the emotional motor system in the anticipation of tickling

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 837-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Wattendorf ◽  
Birgit Westermann ◽  
Klaus Fiedler ◽  
Simone Ritz ◽  
Annetta Redmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Anterior Insula ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Periaqueductal Gray Matter ◽  
Internal Globus Pallidus ◽  
Posterior Insula ◽  
Anticipatory Activity ◽  
The Brain

Abstract In analogy to the appreciation of humor, that of tickling is based upon the re-interpretation of an anticipated emotional situation. Hence, the anticipation of tickling contributes to the final outburst of ticklish laughter. To localize the neuronal substrates of this process, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted on 31 healthy volunteers. The state of anticipation was simulated by generating an uncertainty respecting the onset of manual foot tickling. Anticipation was characterized by an augmented fMRI signal in the anterior insula, the hypothalamus, the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area, as well as by an attenuated one in the internal globus pallidus. Furthermore, anticipatory activity in the anterior insula correlated positively with the degree of laughter that was produced during tickling. These findings are consistent with an encoding of the expected emotional consequences of tickling and suggest that early regulatory mechanisms influence, automatically, the laughter circuitry at the level of affective and sensory processing. Tickling activated not only those regions of the brain that were involved during anticipation, but also the posterior insula, the anterior cingulate cortex and the periaqueductal gray matter. Sequential or combined anticipatory and tickling-related neuronal activities may adjust emotional and sensorimotor pathways in preparation for the impending laughter response.

scholarly journals Experienced meditators, cancer survivors, and matched controls assemble different neural resources to process emotion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Bauer-Wu ◽  
Andrew Butler ◽  
Justin Rajendra ◽  
Rachael Whitworth ◽  
Giuseppe Pagnoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Negativity Bias ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Experience Emotion

According to constructivist theories of emotion, members of different populations experience emotion differently as a result of assembling different neural resources to produce it. To test this prediction, we sampled individuals from three populations (experienced meditators, cancer survivors, matched controls) and used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess their neural responses to four kinds of affective phrases (positive cancer, negative cancer, positive non-cancer, negative non- cancer). As predicted, the three populations responded differently to these affective phrases. When assessing neural activity for positive vs. negative phrases, controls showed the standard negativity bias reported in the emotion literature, cancer survivors showed a positivity bias (perhaps related to personal growth following cancer), and experienced meditators showed no bias (perhaps reflecting the mental quality of equanimity established through regular meditation practice). When assessing neural activity for positively-valenced cancer vs. non-cancer phrases, controls exhibited difficulty engaging with the cancer phrases, engaging much more with the non-cancer phrases instead. In contrast, experienced meditators and cancer survivors engaged more with the cancer phrases, while exhibiting different affective styles. Together these results indicate that experienced meditators, cancer survivors, and matched controls assemble different neural resources to process emotion.

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