Auditory cortex activation is modulated by emotion: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study

Abstract

Visual emotional stimuli evoke enhanced activation in early visual cortex areas which may help organisms to quickly detect biologically salient cues and initiate appropriate approach or avoidance behavior. Functional neuroimaging evidence for the modulation of other sensory modalities by emotion is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test whether sensory facilitation by emotional cues can also be found in the auditory domain. We recorded auditory brain activation with functional near-infrared-spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive and silent neuroimaging technique, while participants were listening to standardized pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral sounds selected from the International Affective Digitized Sound System (IADS). Pleasant and unpleasant sounds led to increased auditory cortex activation as compared to neutral sounds. This is the first study to suggest that the enhanced activation of sensory areas in response to complex emotional stimuli is apparently not restricted to the visual domain but is also evident in the auditory domain.

Simultaneous measurement of neuronal activity and cortical hemodynamics by unshielded magnetoencephalography and near-infrared spectroscopy

“…However, it is possible to understand NVC by using a correlation function between the neuronal and hemodynamic responses. 14 NIRS studies with auditory cortex activation have been also reported for both adults [27][28][29] and infants. 30,31 These studies are mainly based on linguistic viewpoint.…”

A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study of sustained attention to local and global target features

“…Considering that the previously mentioned probing technique would be inappropriate for the current research (given the tasks high event rate), it is necessary to use an alternative, non-intrusive method of gathering physiological stress data to compliment findings regarding the subjective state of individuals. The functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is primarily employed to assess cerebral activation differences in local and global discrimination conditions has also been used in a range of research as a measurement of physiological stress (Tanida, Katsuyama & Sakatani, 2008;Plichta et al, 2011;Kirilina et al, 2012). Indeed, Ishii et al, (2008) investigated the use of fNIRS as an alternative technique for mental state analysis, and found results that indicate its' suitability as a tool for mental state evaluation.…”

Cortical cross-modal plasticity following deafness measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

“…Also fNIRS provides silent recordings that are free from magnetic and electrical artefacts, and thus is highly suited to auditory research and is safe for repeated use in CI recipients (Sevy et al, 2010). Further, it is possible to measure functional responses to auditory stimulation in auditory cortex using fNIRS (Ohnishi et al, 1997;Minagawa-Kawai et al, 2002;Remijn and Kojima, 2010;Sevy et al, 2010;Plichta et al, 2011).…”