Negative mood affects brain processing of visceral sensation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Psychology

Background:

• A link between negative emotions and abnormal visceral sensations is established.
• The impact of negative emotions on the brain's processing of visceral pain remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of negative emotion on brain processing of esophageal sensation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Main Methods:

• Twelve healthy males underwent fMRI scans while receiving esophageal distensions (nonpainful and painful) during neutral and negative emotional states induced by music.
• Subjective perception of stimuli and mood ratings were collected.

Main Results:

• Negative emotion induction significantly increased sadness ratings.
• No significant effect of emotion on subjective perception of esophageal stimuli was observed.
• Painful stimulation during negative emotion increased brain activity in the right hemisphere, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and anterior insula.

Conclusions:

• Negative affect influences central processing of visceral pain, with right hemispheric dominance observed.
• The right insula and ACC are crucial for subjective emotional awareness via interoception.