Prefrontal inhibition of threat processing reduces working memory interference.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Emotion Regulation

Background:

• Bottom-up processing of significant emotional stimuli can disrupt ongoing cognition.
• Effective modulation of emotional interference is crucial for task focus and daily functioning.
• Imbalances in cognitive-emotional regulation negatively impact daily activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction between threat processing and cognitive performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To examine how cognitive load modulates the impact of threat on working memory (WM).
• To identify neural mechanisms underlying top-down control of emotional interference.

Main Methods:

• fMRI study with 18 adult participants performing a visuospatial working memory task.
• Manipulated cognitive load (low vs. high) and introduced anxiety via threat of electric shock.
• Utilized directed functional connectivity analysis (Dynamic Causal Modeling) and correlated performance on a separate top-down control task.

Main Results:

• Threat of shock impaired low-load WM performance but was eradicated under high cognitive load.
• Amygdala activation to threat was significantly modulated by high cognitive load.
• Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) were identified as key regions for top-down control, inhibiting amygdala activity under high load.

Conclusions:

• High cognitive load engages emotion regulation mechanisms, enabling top-down control to inhibit threat processing and maintain working memory performance.
• The dACC and vlPFC play a critical role in exerting top-down inhibition on threat-related neural activity.
• Individual differences in non-emotional top-down control abilities predict the recruitment of vlPFC and dACC during threat management.