Emotion, plasticity, context, and regulation: Perspectives from affective neuroscience.

Abstract

The authors present an overview of the neural bases of emotion. They underscore the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala in 2 broad approach- and withdrawal-related emotion systems. Components and measures of affective style are identified. Emphasis is given to affective chronometry and a role for the PFC in this process is proposed. Plasticity in the central circuitry of emotion is considered, and implications of data showing experience-induced changes in the hippocampus for understanding psychopathology and stress-related symptoms are discussed. Two key forms of affective plasticity are described--context and regulation. A role for the hippocampus in context-dependent normal and dysfunctional emotional responding is proposed. Finally, implications of these data for understanding the impact on neural circuitry of interventions to promote positive affect and on mechanisms that govern health and disease are considered.

Resting state and personality component (BIS/BAS) predict the brain activity (EEG and fNIRS measure) in response to emotional cues

“…Indeed, the results of the present research are consistent with the valence asymmetry model which supposes that the left/right asymmetry of PFC activity is correlated with specific emotional personality traits (Canli et al., 2001; Davidson, Jackson, & Kalin, 2000; Fischer, Andersson, Furmark, Wik, & Fredrikson, 2002). That is, the main effect of this “lateralization,” as shown by resting brain activity, is that each subject shows a specific “attitude,” and that this trait is observable in both a relative main left or right hemispheric activation also in the absence of specific emotional task.…”

“…That is, the main effect of this “lateralization,” as shown by resting brain activity, is that each subject shows a specific “attitude,” and that this trait is observable in both a relative main left or right hemispheric activation also in the absence of specific emotional task. According to the asymmetry model, the left/right asymmetry of the PFC activity is correlated with specific emotional responses to stimuli (Canli et al., 2001; Davidson et al., 2000; Fischer et al., 2002). Indeed, some EEG and neuroimaging studies have revealed that people who show greater relative left PFC activity exhibit more positive and less negative dispositional mood (Tomarken et al., 1992) than their right‐dominant counterparts.…”

Reciprocal neural response within lateral and ventral medial prefrontal cortex during hot and cold reasoning

“…A number of studies have activated these structures in emotion regulation tasks (Davidson et al, 2000a(Davidson et al, , 2000bReiman et al, 1997). However, our results go one step further.…”

Now You Feel It, Now You Don't

“…Tonic inhibition of the amygdala may be reflected in studies in which subjects with higher left prefrontal activation report more trait positive affect and less trait negative affect, and display greater reactivity to positive stimuli (e.g., Tomarken, Davidson, & Henriques, 1990;Tomarken, Davidson, Wheeler, & Doss, 1992), than individuals with lower levels of left prefrontal activation. In contrast, individuals with high levels of negative affect or depression may have relatively unregulated amygdala activation, in addition to relative right-sided resting PFC activation (for a review, see Davidson, Jackson, & Kalin, 2000).…”