Common and distinct neurofunctional representations of core and social disgust in the brain: Coordinate-based and network meta-analyses. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gan, Xianyang; Zhou, Xinqi; Li, Jialin; Jiao, Guojuan; Jiang, Xi; Biswal, Bharat; Yao, Shuxia; Klugah-Brown, Benjamin; Becker, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 135(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Disgust -- FMRI -- Meta-analysis -- Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) -- Meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) -- Defensive-avoidance response -- Social cognition -- Face -- Insula -- Amygdala; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Abstract: Disgust represents a multifaceted defensive-avoidance response. On the behavioral level, the response includes withdrawal and a disgust-specific facial expression. While both serve the avoidance of pathogens, the latter additionally transmits social-communicative information. Given that common and distinct brain representation of the primary defensive-avoidance response (core disgust) and encoding of the social-communicative signal (social disgust) remain debated, we employed neuroimaging meta-analyses to (1) determine brain systems generally engaged in disgust processing, and (2) segregate common and distinct brain systems for core and social disgust. Disgust processing, in general, engaged a bilateral network encompassing the insula, amygdala, occipital and prefrontal regions. Core disgust evoked stronger reactivity in left-lateralized threat detection and defensive response network including amygdala, occipital and frontal regions, while social disgust engaged a right-lateralized superior temporal-frontal network involved in social cognition. Anterior insula, inferior frontal and fusiform regions were commonly engaged during core and social disgust, suggesting a shared neurofunctional basis. We demonstrate a common and distinct neural basis of primary disgust responses and encoding of associated social-communicative signals. Highlights: Brain systems underlying general, core and social disgust were examined. Coordinate-based, network and behavioral meta-analyses were employed. Disgust generally engaged occipital, insular, amygdalar and prefrontal regions. Core disgust engaged threat detection, social disgust social cognitive networks. Both engaged anterior insular and fusiform regions as common neural basis.