Visual processing of emotional stimuli has been shown to engage complex cortical and subcortical networks, but it is still unclear how it affects sensorimotor integration processes. To fill this gap, here, we used a TMS protocol named short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), capturing sensorimotor interactions, while healthy participants were observing emotional body language (EBL) and International Affective Picture System (IAPS) stimuli. Participants were presented with emotional (fear- and happiness-related) or non-emotional (neutral) EBL and IAPS stimuli while SAI was tested at 120 ms and 300 ms after pictures presentation. At the earlier time point (120 ms), we found that fear-related EBL and IAPS stimuli selectively enhanced SAI as indexed by the greater inhibitory effect of somatosensory afferents on motor excitability. Larger early SAI enhancement was associated with lower scores at the Behavioural Inhibition Scale (BIS). At the later time point (300 ms), we found a generalized SAI decrease for all kind of stimuli (fear, happiness or neutral). Because the SAI index reflects integrative activity of cholinergic sensorimotor circuits, our findings suggest greater sensitivity of such circuits during early (120 ms) processing of threat-related information. Moreover, the correlation with BIS score may suggest increased attention and sensory vigilance in participants with greater anxiety-related dispositions. In conclusion, the results of this study show that sensorimotor inhibition is rapidly enhanced while processing threatening stimuli and that SAI protocol might be a valuable option in evaluating emotional-motor interactions in physiological and pathological conditions.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9054825 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10981-8 | DOI Listing |
Behav Sci (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39, 43125 Parma, PR, Italy.
Introduction: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent disorder and a highly debilitating condition. Although current theories focused on depressed mood and intrusion as critical dimensions, the mechanism through which depression increases the risk of PTSD remains unclear. Research usually concentrates on the hyperactive negative valence system (NVS) (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroimage
January 2025
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, via Orus 2/B, 35129 Padova, Italy. Electronic address:
The impacting research on emotions of the last decades was carried out with different methods. The most popular was based on the use of a validated sample of slides, the International Affective Pictures System (IAPS), divided mainly into pleasant, neutral and unpleasant categories, and on fMRI as a measure of brain activation induced by these stimuli. With the present coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) based on ALE approach, we aimed to unmask the main brain networks involved in the contrast of pleasant vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
June 2024
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
Valence (positive and negative) and content (embodied vs non-embodied) characteristics of visual stimuli have been shown to influence motor readiness, as tested with response time paradigms. Both embodiment and emotional processing are affected in Parkinson's disease (PD) due to basal ganglia dysfunction. Here we aimed to investigate, using a two-choice response time paradigm, motor readiness when processing embodied (emotional body language [EBL] and emotional facial expressions [FACS]) vs non-embodied (emotional scenes [IAPS]) stimuli with neutral, happy, and fearful content.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!