Title
Portraying emotions at their unfolding: A multilayered approach for probing dynamics of neural networks.
Abstract
Dynamic functional integration of distinct neural systems plays a pivotal role in emotional experience. We introduce a novel approach for studying emotion-related changes in the interactions within and between networks using fMRI. It is based on continuous computation of a network cohesion index (NCI), which is sensitive to both strength and variability of signal correlations between pre-defined regions. The regions encompass three clusters (namely limbic, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cognitive), each previously was shown to be involved in emotional processing. Two sadness-inducing film excerpts were viewed passively, and comparisons between viewer's rated sadness, parasympathetic, and inter-NCI and intra-NCI were obtained. Limbic intra-NCI was associated with reported sadness in both movies. However, the correlation between the parasympathetic-index, the rated sadness and the limbic-NCI occurred in only one movie, possibly related to a “deactivated” pattern of sadness. In this film, rated sadness intensity also correlated with the mPFC intra-NCI, possibly reflecting temporal correspondence between sadness and sympathy. Further, only for this movie, we found an association between sadness rating and the mPFC–limbic inter-NCI time courses. To the contrary, in the other film in which sadness was reported to commingle with horror and anger, dramatic events coincided with disintegration of these networks. Together, this may point to a difference between the cinematic experiences with regard to inter-network dynamics related to emotional regulation. These findings demonstrate the advantage of a multi-layered dynamic analysis for elucidating the uniqueness of emotional experiences with regard to an unguided processing of continuous and complex stimulation.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.084
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
Emotion regulation,Emotional cinematic experience,fMRI,Functional connectivity,Emotional dynamics,Network cohesion
Brain mapping,Sympathy,Sadness,Developmental psychology,Prefrontal cortex,Cognitive psychology,Psychology,Correlation,Anger,Cognition,Artificial neural network
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
60
2
1053-8119
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
13
0.86
11
Authors
10
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Gal Raz1485.24
Yonatan Winetraub2131.19
Yael Jacob3192.11
Sivan Kinreich4181.99
Adi Maron-Katz520810.52
Galit Shaham6130.86
Ilana Podlipsky7313.21
Gadi Gilam8161.93
Eyal Soreq9293.88
Talma Hendler1011819.07