Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation
Published on: August 26, 2011
Differential amygdala activation to negative and positive emotional pictures during an indirect task
Thomas Straube1, Sebastian Pohlack, Hans J Mentzel
1Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Am Steiger 3//1, D-07743 Jena, Germany. straube@biopsy.uni-jena.de
Abstract:
The role of the amygdala for the processing of valence and arousal is a matter of debate. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we tested valence-specific amygdala effects during attentional distraction. Subjects attended to a matching task in the foreground of neutral pictures, and of negative and positive pictures matched for arousal. Negative pictures elicited stronger amygdala activation than neutral or positive pictures, suggesting valence-specific amygdala responses under attentional load.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Cognitive Theories: Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences physiological...
Facial Feedback Hypothesis

