Chronotopic encoding of emotional dimensions in the human brain assessed by FMRI. (13th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lettieri, G.; Handjaras, G.; Ricciardi, E.; Pietrini, P.; Cecchetti, L.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 64:Supplement 1(2021)
• Page Start: S129
• Page End: S129
• Publication Date: 2021-04-13
• Subjects: affective timecourse -- naturalistic stimulation -- emotions -- fMRI; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.361
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Affective experiences vary as function of context, motivations and the unfolding of events. This temporal fundamental aspect of emotional processes is often disrupted in psychiatric conditions. Objectives: To investigate how the brain represents the association between affect and time, we combined fMRI and behavioral ratings during movie watching. Methods: Participants watched 'Forrest Gump' in the fMRI scanner (n=14, 6F). Data were preprocessed (see 10.1101/2020.06.06.137851v1) and average brain activity from 1000 regions was extracted. Independent subjects (n=12, 5F) provided continuous ratings of the intensity of their affective state while watching the same movie. Using PCA, we derived the first 3 affective dimensions (polarity, complexity, intensity; 10.1038/s41467-019-13599-z) and computed their time-varying correlation in windows from 5-1000tps. We identified the window size with the maximum between-subjects accordance and computed the inter-subject functional connectivity (10.1038/ncomms12141). For each region, we obtained connectivity strength and its association in time with changes in affective dimensions (pBonf <0.05). Results: Fluctuations in connectivity strength of the right rMFG, precuneus, pSTS/TPJ, dmPFC, aINS and left pMTG were associated to polarity. Also, connectivity of the right IPS/SPL, SFG, dpreCS, IFGpOrb, OFC, precuneus, vpreCS and pSTS/TPJ followed the timecourse of perceived intensity of affect. Conclusions: Connectivity strength of default mode represents the pleasantness of the experience, whereas attention and control networks encode its intensity. Emotional descriptions converge in right temporoparietal and fronto-polar cortex, where the stream of affect is encoded in a chronotopic manner. These results expand our understanding of the neural correlates of emotional processing, a function severely affected by mental disorders. Disclosure: No significant relationships.