Self-Relevance Processing in the Human Amygdala: Gaze Direction, Facial Expression, and Emotion Intensity
Self-Relevance Processing in the Human Amygdala: Gaze Direction, Facial Expression, and Emotion Intensity
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DOI：
10.1037/a0017845
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发表时间：
2009-12-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.2
通讯作者：
Vuilleumier, Patrik
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
N'Diaye, Karim;Sander, David;Vuilleumier, Patrik
注视如何影响情绪表达的加工仍然是一个有争议的问题。以前的结果之间的差异可能源于刺激和任务特征的性质的差异。在这里，我们使用了一组高度控制的计算机生成的动画脸，结合动态的情感表达与不同的强度，和目光转移，无论是直接或避免从观察者。我们预测，恐惧的面孔感知到的自我相关性会更高，避免凝视信号附近的危险;而相反，直接凝视将更相关的愤怒的面孔信号侵略性。这种互动模式被观察到行为的情绪强度评级，和神经功能磁共振成像激活杏仁核，以及梭状和内侧前额叶皮质，但只有轻度和高强度的表达。这些结果支持人类杏仁核参与自我相关性的评价，并揭示了情感和凝视互动的表达强度的关键作用。
How the processing of emotional expression is influenced by perceived gaze remains a debated issue. Discrepancies between previous results may stem from differences in the nature of stimuli and task characteristics. Here we used a highly controlled set of computer-generated animated faces combining dynamic emotional expressions with varying intensity, and gaze shifts either directed at or averted from the observer. We predicted that perceived self-relevance of fearful faces would be higher with averted gaze-signaling a nearby danger; whereas conversely, direct gaze would be more relevant for angry faces-signaling aggressiveness. This interaction pattern was observed behaviorally for emotion intensity ratings, and neurally for functional magnetic resonance imaging activation in amygdala, as well as fusiform and medial prefrontal cortices, but only for mild- and not high-intensity expressions. These results support an involvement of human amygdala in the appraisal of self-relevance and reveal a crucial role of expression intensity in emotion and gaze interactions.