Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
12:51
Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Aware and Unaware Fear Memory with fMRI
Published on: October 6, 2011
13.3K
Early changes in corticospinal excitability for subliminally presented fearful body postures
Sara Borgomaneri1,2, Thomas Quettier3, Marianna Ambrosecchia3
1Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia "Renzo Canestrari",, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, 47521, Italy. sara.borgomaneri@unibo.it.
Scientific Reports
|August 8, 2025
Summary
Subliminal fearful body expressions automatically reduce motor system excitability, even without conscious awareness. This early motor response prepares the body to react quickly to potential threats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Fearful body expressions are crucial for threat detection and motor reactions.
- Subliminal fear stimuli impact visual processing and autonomic responses, enhancing threat vigilance.
- The effect of non-visible emotional bodies on corticospinal excitability (CSE) is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if subliminal fearful body postures modulate corticospinal excitability (CSE) in observers.
- To determine the temporal dynamics and awareness independence of this modulation.
Main Methods:
- 22 healthy participants performed a sex discrimination task with neutral targets.
- Stimuli included subliminal fearful, happy, or neutral body posture primes.
- Corticospinal excitability (CSE) was measured using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at 70, 90, and 110 ms.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in CSE was observed in the dominant hemisphere for subliminal fearful primes compared to neutral and happy primes.
- This CSE suppression occurred early and was not influenced by awareness, metacognition, or personality traits.
Conclusions:
- Subliminal fearful body expressions automatically activate the motor system.
- This suggests a rapid, unconscious survival mechanism for threat monitoring and motor preparation.
- Fearful expressions, even when not consciously perceived, prime the observer for swift responses to danger.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Somatic Spinal Reflexes
2.7K
Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
2.7K
01:24Facial Feedback Hypothesis
246
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
246