Neural mechanisms of autonomic, affective, and cognitive integration

Abstract

Influential theoretical models propose a central role for afferent information from the body in the expression of emotional feeling states. Feedback representations of changing states of bodily arousal influence learning and facilitate concurrent and prospective decision-making. Functional neuroimaging studies have increased understanding of brain mechanisms that generate changes in autonomic arousal during behavior and those which respond to internal feedback signals to influence subjective feeling states. In particular, anterior cingulate cortex is implicated in generating autonomic changes, while insula and orbitofrontal cortices may be specialized in mapping visceral responses. Independently, ventromedial prefrontal cortex is recognized to support processes of internal (self-) reference that predominate in states of rest and disengagement and which putatively serve as a benchmark for dynamic interactions with the environment. Lesion data further highlight the integrated role of these cortical regions in autonomic and motivational control. In computational models of control, forward (efference copies) and inverse models are proposed to enable prediction and correction of action and, by extension, the interpretation of the behavior of others. It is hypothesized that the neural substrate for these processes during motivational and affective behavior lies within the interactions of anterior cingulate, insula, and orbitofrontal cortices. Generation of visceral autonomic correlates of control reinforce experiential engagement in simulatory models and underpin concepts such as somatic markers to bridge the dualistic divide.

Cardiac responses to viewing facial emotion differentiate frontotemporal dementias

“…Statistical parametric maps were evaluated at peak voxel threshold P < 0.05, after family‐wise error (FWE) correction for multiple voxel‐wise comparisons within prespecified anatomical regions of interest. These regions of interest were defined a priori based on the cortical components of the central autonomic control network delineated in the healthy brain,15, 16 and comprised ACC, insula and OFC as defined using the Harvard‐Oxford Brain Atlas (http://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/Atlases). …”

“…We hypothesized that cardiac modulation would be attenuated in bvFTD and nfvPPA due to degeneration of fronto‐insular networks in these diseases, but relatively preserved (and separable from emotion identification) in syndromes targeting the anterior temporal lobes (svPPA and rtvFTD) 18, 20, 21. We further hypothesized that emotion recognition ability but not cardiac reactivity would be associated with semantic knowledge, while cardiac reactivity would correlate with atrophy in components of the central autonomic regulatory network (ACC, insula, OFC) 15, 16, 24…”

“…Stimulus onset induces a cardiac orienting deceleration, which is modulated by affective content, with greater cardiac deceleration accompanying higher emotional valence 12, 13, 14. This central regulation of cardiac function is mediated by a distributed brain network including anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) 15, 16. Cardiac afferent information informs affective valuation,17 and visceral autonomic responses may support emotional contagion and empathy 9…”

From affective blindsight to emotional consciousness

“…As we will discuss in detail later, approaching consciousness, and its absence, from the vantage point of emotion processing may help to reconcile these two aspects of consciousness that have been barely considered within the same framework. In fact, the intersection between emotion and consciousness seems more radical than what was initially envisaged: not only do emotional signals have a privileged access to consciousness, but several subcortical structures that are important for emotion processing partly overlap with structures involved in the maintenance of state consciousness (Craig, 2009;Critchley, 2005;Damasio, 1999;Mitchell & Greening, 2012;Panksepp, 2005;Park & Tallon-Baudry, 2014;Tamietto & de Gelder, 2010;Tamietto et al, 2005;Tsuchiya & Adolphs, 2007;Vuilleumier, 2005). Seen from an evolutionary perspective, this is consistent with the thesis that consciousness evolved in the process, and as a consequence, of the demands of the social and emotional environment (Humphrey, 1983).…”

The role of clinician emotion in clinical reasoning: Balancing the analytical process

“…Autonomic arousal, according to Critchley (2005), is based around the role of anticipation feedback, which is then re-enforced with a physiological reaction, such as heart-rate or sweating. This could be suggested to enhance learning, as the memory of that decision will have a combined and linked physiological and emotional marker.…”