Affective processing and executive control

在这个项目中，我们将使用功能磁共振成像（fMRI），颅内事件相关电位， （ERP）和行为表现，以调查情感和执行控制过程的相互作用 以及调节它们相互作用的大脑系统。这个新项目反映了一个综合的研究 项目3和4或当前资助期内开发的主题。我们观察到， 引起情绪反应的与任务无关的刺激强烈激活包括腹侧 情感处理系统（VAPS），并引起大脑结构的相对失活，包括背 执行控制系统（德克斯）。这种德克斯的相对失活，特别是背外侧， 前额叶皮层（dIPFC）与工作记忆表现差有关。我们的目标是识别大脑 系统相互作用，以提高或阻碍任务的表现，通过不同的程度，受试者的 主要任务取决于执行功能和德克斯;通过改变效价和唤醒特性， 任务无关的干扰;通过改变当前的注意力焦点;以及通过改变 唤醒、情绪和/或压力。有三个具体目标： 具体目标1将确定（a）由关键任务诱发的阶段性dIPFC激活的程度 事件影响由情绪干扰引起的任务中断和（B）是否紧张状态 激活影响背外侧前额叶皮层（dIPFC）显示相对失活的程度 情绪干扰物特定目标2将调查VAPS是否可以通过操纵 认知任务的“心理负荷”，以及负荷诱导的该系统的激活本身是否可以 引起dIPFC和德克斯的其他组分的相对失活，导致较差的任务性能。 噪声应激源对德克斯工作记忆任务参与的影响也将被 在这个目标下调查。特定目标3将调查VAPS是否由以下因素自动激活： 情绪干扰，或者激活是否受到并发注意力需求的限制。 情感和情绪调节的变化是神经系统疾病的常见和衰弱的方面 如中风、帕金森病、ALS和阿尔茨海默病。了解情感 处理影响执行控制将提供新的见解，对这些补救措施 和正常人类大脑的功能。

In this project, we will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), intracranial event-related potentials (ERPs), and behavioral performance to investigate the interplay of affective and executive control processes and the brain systems that mediate their interactions. This new project reflects a synthesis of research themes developed in Projects 3 and 4 or the current grant period. It is stimulated by our observation that task-irrelevant stimuli that evoke emotional responses strongly activate brain structures comprising a ventral affective processing system (VAPS) and evoke a relative deactivation of brain structures comprising a dorsal executive control system (DECS). This relative deactivation of DECS and, in particular, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dIPFC) is associated with poor working memory performance. Our goal is to identify brain systems that interact to enhance or impede task performance by varying the degree to which the subject's primary task depends upon executive function and the DECS; by varying the valence and arousal properties of task-irrelevant distracters; by varying the current focus of attention; and by varying baseline levels of arousal, emotion and/or stress. There are three specific aims: Specific Aim 1 will determine (a) whether the degree of phasic dIPFC activation evoked by critical task events influences task disruption induced by emotional distracters and (b) whether the tonic state of activation influences the degree to which dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dIPFC) shows relative deactivation by emotional distracters. Specific Aim 2 will investigate whether the VAPS can be activated by manipulating the "mental workload" of a cognitive task, and whether workload induced activation of this system can itself evoke a relative deactivation of dIPFC and other components of the DECS leading to poor task performance. The effect of noise stressors upon the engagement of DECS by working memory tasks will also be investigated in this Aim. Specific Aim 3 will investigate whether the VAPS is automatically activated by emotional distracters, or whether activation is limited by concurrent attentional demands. Changes in affect and emotional regulation are frequent and debilitating aspects of neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, ALS, and Alzheimer's disease. An understanding of how affective processing influences executive control will provide new insights into remediatory approaches toward these disorders and into the functioning of the normal human brain.