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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition
Published on: February 1, 2012
Deep brain stimulation reveals emotional impact processing in ventromedial prefrontal cortex
1Pathophysiology and Experimental Tomography Center, Aarhus University Hospitals, Aarhus, Denmark. gjedde@sund.ku.dk
Plos One
|December 10, 2009
Summary
Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus influences ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity, impacting emotional reactivity. This modulation depends on the interplay of monoamine receptors and neurotransmitter concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Previous studies identified ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) reactivity via serotonergic and noradrenergic modulation.
- Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if STN-DBS modulates vmPFC activity, revealing its role in emotional processing.
- To investigate the relationship between STN-DBS-induced brain activity changes and emotional reactivity.
Main Methods:
- Studied Parkinson's disease patients undergoing STN-DBS, measuring brain blood flow changes.
- Assessed emotional reactivity by patient ratings of emotive images off DBS.
- Correlated blood flow changes in brain regions with emotional impact ratings.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between emotional impact (off DBS) and vmPFC blood flow changes during DBS.
- In low emotional impact subjects, vmPFC blood flow increased with DBS.
- In high emotional impact subjects, vmPFC blood flow decreased with DBS.
Conclusions:
- Neurotransmission changes in the vmPFC affect tissue based on monoamine concentration and receptor interactions.
- STN-DBS influences emotional processing via vmPFC modulation, dependent on individual monoaminergic tone.
