What is in a word? No versus Yes differentially engage the lateral orbitofrontal cortex
Nelly Alia-Klein1, Rita Z Goldstein1, Dardo Tomasi1
1Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|August 9, 2007
Summary
The words "No" and "Yes" trigger distinct emotional responses and brain activity. "No" evokes negative valence and slower reactions, while "Yes" elicits positive valence and faster responses, impacting emotion regulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The words "No" and "Yes" are fundamental in behavioral conditioning, signaling prohibition or encouragement.
- Understanding the neural basis of these responses is crucial for comprehending emotion regulation and social development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of processing the words "No" and "Yes" using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To examine the endogenous valence attribution and activation of emotional control circuits by these words.
Main Methods:
- Functional MRI (fMRI) at 4 Tesla was employed to measure regional brain activity.
- Participants were exposed to emphatic vocalizations of "No" and "Yes" while their brain responses were recorded.
Main Results:
- "No" and "Yes" elicited opposing brain-behavioral responses, with "No" being negatively valenced and "Yes" positively valenced.
- "No" was associated with slower response times and negative signals in the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), while "Yes" showed faster response times and positive signals in a contiguous OFC region.
- Negative valence attribution to "No" and trait anger control correlated with heightened OFC responsiveness to "No".
Conclusions:
- The lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a significant role in processing prohibitive commands and emotional valence.
- Findings suggest the lateral OFC's involvement in the neurobiology of emotion regulation and social development, potentially originating from early caregiver interactions.
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