Intensified Neuronal Investment in the Processing of Chemosensory Anxiety Signals in Non-Socially Anxious and Socially Anxious Individuals

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010342
• Publication Date: 2010-04-23T20:14:38Z
• Authors: Bettina M. Pause; Katrin Lübke; Joachim H. Laudien; Roman Ferstl
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology)

Background The ability to communicate anxiety through chemosensory signals has been documented in humans by behavioral, perceptual and brain imaging studies. Here, we investigate a time-sensitive manner how signals, donated awaiting an academic examination, are processed the human brain, analyzing event-related potentials (CSERPs, 64-channel recording with current source density analysis). Methodology/Principal Findings In first study cerebral stimulus processing was recorded from 28 non-socially anxious participants second 16 socially individuals. Each individual participated two sessions, smelling sweat samples either female or male donors (88 sessions; balanced session order). Most of both studies were unable detect stimuli olfactorily. females, CSERPs demonstrate increased magnitude P3 component response signals. this activity allocated medial frontal areas. females require more neuronal resources during early pre-attentive (N1). neocortical sources located within lateral general, males much weaker than females. However, earlier (N1 latency) control collected ergometer training. Conclusions/Significance It is concluded that requires enhanced energy. Socially individuals show bias towards social fear resulting repression late attentional processing.