The VLPFC-Engaged Voluntary Emotion Regulation: Combined TMS-fMRI Evidence
Poster No:
70
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Zhenhong HE1
Institutions:
1Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Ave, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong
First Author:
Introduction:
Understanding the neural circuits underlying emotion regulation is important for both researchers and clinicians. For instance, we previously revealed that the dorsolateral (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) play distinct roles in voluntary emotion regulation (Zhao et al., The Journal of Neuroscience, 2021). However, a lack of bidirectional evidence based on combined neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques calls into question 1) whether the change of prefrontal-subcortical activity per se causally contributes to the emotion regulation effect and 2) whether the prefrontal control system directly modulates the subcortical affective system.
Methods:
Accordingly, we combined fMRI recordings with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to map the causal connections between the PFC and subcortical affective structures (amygdala and insula). A total of 117 human adult participants (57 males and 60 females) were included in the study.
Results:
The results revealed that TMS-induced ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC) facilitation led to enhanced activity in the VLPFC and ventromedial PFC (VMPFC) as well as attenuated activity in the amygdala and insula during reappraisal but not during nonreappraisal (i.e., baseline). Moreover, the activated VLPFC intensified the prefrontal-subcortical couplings via the VMPFC during reappraisal only.
Conclusions:
This study provides combined TMS-fMRI evidence that downregulating negative emotion involves the prefrontal control system suppressing the subcortical affective system, with the VMPFC serving as a crucial hub within the VLPFC-subcortical network, suggesting an indirect pathway model of the ER circuit. Our findings outline potential protocols for improving ER ability by intensifying the VLPFC-VMPFC coupling in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.
Brain Stimulation:
TMS 1
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Emotion and Motivation Other
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Bayesian Modeling
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI 2
Keywords:
Emotions
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
·Figure 1
·Figure 2
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Provide references using APA citation style.
He, Z., Lin, Y., Xia, L., Liu, Z., Zhang, D., Elliott, R. (2018). Critical role of the right VLPFC in emotional regulation of social exclusion: a tDCS study. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, 13(4), 357-366.
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Delgado, M. R., Nearing, K. I., Ledoux, J. E., Phelps, E. A. (2008). Neural circuitry underlying the regulation of conditioned fear and its relation to extinction. Neuron, 59(5), 829-838.
Etkin, A., Buchel, C., Gross, J. J. (2015). The neural bases of emotion regulation. Nat Rev Neurosci, 16(11), 693-700.