Effect of parasympathetic stimulation on brain activity during appraisal of fearful expressions.

ABSTRACT: Autonomic nervous system activity is an important component of human emotion. Mental processes influence bodily physiology, which in turn feeds back to influence thoughts and feelings. Afferent cardiovascular signals from arterial baroreceptors in the carotid sinuses are processed within the brain and contribute to this two-way communication with the body. These carotid baroreceptors can be stimulated non-invasively by externally applying focal negative pressure bilaterally to the neck. In an experiment combining functional neuroimaging (fMRI) with carotid stimulation in healthy participants, we tested the hypothesis that manipulating afferent cardiovascular signals alters the central processing of emotional information (fearful and neutral facial expressions). Carotid stimulation, compare

SUBMITTER: Makovac E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4915246 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature