Functional connectivity dynamics as a function of the fluctuation of tension during film watching

To advance the understanding of the dynamic relationship between brain activities and emotional experiences, we examined the neural patterns of tension, a unique emotion that highly depends on how an event unfolds. Specifically, the present study explored the temporal relationship between functional connectivity patterns within and between different brain functional modules and the fluctuation in tension during film watching. Due to the highly contextualized and time-varying nature of tension, we expected that multiple neural networks would be involved in the dynamic tension experience. Using the neuroimaging data of 546 participants, we conducted a dynamic brain analysis to identify the intra- and inter-module functional connectivity patterns that are significantly correlated with the fluctuation of tension over time. The results showed that the inter-module connectivity of cingulo-opercular network, fronto-parietal network, and default mode network is involved in the dynamic experience of tension. These findings demonstrate a close relationship between brain functional connectivity patterns and emotional dynamics, which supports the importance of functional connectivity dynamics in understanding our cognitive and emotional processes.