fMRI Correlates of Self-Conscious Emotion

Recognition

Monika WanisCade Warren

Dr. Chris Rorden’s Neuropsychology Lab

Basic Emotions

• Anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise

• Universally recognized

• 9 months after birth

• Vital for survival

Self-Conscious Emotions

• Embarrassment, empathy, jealousy, guilt, hubris, pride, shame

• Universally recognized

• End of age 3

• Goals and achievements

Self-Conscious Emotions

• Driven by social interactions and social norms

• Require– Theory of mind– Capacity to evaluate the self– Understanding of social norms

• Useful for:– Achieving goals– Motivation of social behavior– Avoiding negative feelings– Gaining and maintaining social status

Stimuli

Stimuli

• Male and female– African American, Asian

American and Caucasian

• Plain white T-shirts, neutral grey background

• Waist up photos

Pride

• Positive appraisal of actions

• Low-intensity smile, expanded posture, slight head tilt, arms akimbo with hands on hips

Shame

• Perception of another persons perception

• Downward head tilt, slumped shoulders, narrowed chest

Neutrals

Study• Lay down in 3T scanner• Watch computer screen in mirror• Index finger button press when see consecutive repeat• Block design– 1.25 seconds for each photo, .25 seconds between each

photo, 15 second blocks• 4 conditions– Neutral Averted, Neutral Direct, Pride, Shame

• Forced Choice Rating – 93.94%• 3 Questionnaires

Participants

• 11 Participants–26 total–3 males, 8 females–Ages 18 – 35

Procedure

• Localizer – 30 seconds – locate brain

• Experiment – 7 minutes – press index finger button when see consecutive repeat

• Experiment – 13.5 minutes – same instructions

• T1 – 6.5 minutes – anatomical scan for template

• Experiment – 13.5 minutes – same instructions

Anticipated BOLD Activity (ROI)

• Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)– Mentalizing about self

• Right temproparietal junction (rTPJ)– Mentalizing about others

Anticipated BOLD Activity (ROI)• Fusiform face area– Viewing facial expressions

• Extrastriate body area– Viewing posture

• Amygdala– Low level emotion processing, fear

Statistics

• Statistical Contrasts– E.g., emotions > neutrals,

pride > directed gaze

• Statistical threshold – Looking for small signal,

family-wise error correction vs. uncorrected

Preliminary Results

• Amygdala (ROI)

– No significant activation (fearful vs. neutral)

Preliminary Results

• Left Extrastriate Visual Cortex

– Signal change correlated with emotions vs. neutral

Limitations• Data are VERY preliminary• Localizer does not seem to work• Self-conscious emotions universal but not salient• Fatigue • Novelty of stimuli• Does not address actual FEELINGS • Forced choice rating

Thanks!

• Dr. Chris Rorden• Cade Warren• Coordinators• SREBCS Participants