Neural Correlates of the Automatic Processing of Threat Facial Signals

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.23-13-05627.2003
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:30:28Z
• Authors: Adam K. Anderson; Kalina Christoff; David Panitz; Eve De Rosa; John D. E. Gabrieli
• Keywords: Disgust; Automaticity; Fusiform face area

The present study examined whether automaticity, defined here as independence from attentional modulation, is a fundamental principle of the neural systems specialized for processing social signals environmental threat. Attention was focused on either scenes or faces presented in single overlapping display. Facial expressions were neutral, fearful, disgusted. Amygdala responses to facial fear, signifier potential physical attack, not reduced with attention faces. In contrast, anterior insular disgust, contamination, attention. However, enhanced amygdala response disgust expressions; this correlated magnitude reduction disgust. These results suggest that automaticity all threat, but unique fear. Furthermore, fear entirely automatic, coming at expense specificity response. thus specific only during attended processing, when cortical undiminished, and more broadly tuned threat unattended diminished.