Biomedical subjects

M Lasko

Publications and source records attributed to M Lasko.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Activation of anterior paralimbic structures during guilt-related script-driven imagery.

BACKGROUND: Several recent neuroimaging studies have examined the neuroanatomical correlates of normal emotional states, such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, and disgust; however, no previous study has examined the emotional state of guilt. METHODS: In the current study, we used positron emission tomography and the script-driven imagery paradigm to study regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during the transient emotional experience of guilt in eight healthy male participants. In the Guilt condition, participants recalled and imagined participating in a personal event involving the most guilt they had ever experienced. In the Neutral condition, participants recalled and imagined participating in an emotionally neutral personal event. RESULTS: In the Guilt versus Neutral comparison, rCBF increases occurred in anterior paralimbic regions of the brain: bilateral anterior temporal poles, anterior cingulate gyrus, and left anterior insular cortex/inferior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: These results, along with those of previous studies, are consistent with the notion that anterior paralimbic regions of the brain mediate negative emotional states in healthy individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Anger in healthy men: a PET study using script-driven imagery.

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the neurobiological basis of normal emotional processing is useful in formulating hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of psychiatric illnesses. METHODS: This study examined the mediating functional neuroanatomy of anger in eight healthy men. Narrative scripts were developed from autobiographical information to induce anger and neutral states. The subjects imagined the content of the narrative scripts to induce anger during positron emission tomography to measure normalized regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Psychophysiologic responses and subjective ratings of emotional state were measured for each condition. Statistical parametric maps were constructed to reflect the Anger versus Neutral state contrast. RESULTS: Anger was associated with activation of the left orbitofrontal cortex, right anterior cingulate cortex affective division, and bilateral anterior temporal poles. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the subjective experience of anger is associated with rCBF increases in anterior paralimbic regions of the brain.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Neural activation during sexual and competitive arousal in healthy men.

To investigate the mediating neuroanatomy of positively valenced arousal, we used script-driven imagery in conjunction with positron emission tomography to measure relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during sexual and competitive arousal, as well as neutral comparison states. Subjects were eight healthy right-handed men. Psychophysiologic responses and subjective ratings confirmed that the desired state manipulations were achieved. Statistical parametric mapping revealed similar patterns of rCBF changes for both positively valenced arousal conditions: increases were found within anterior cingulate and anterior temporal cortex as well as the ventral globus pallidus; decreases were found within widespread heteromodal association areas. These results complement findings from studies of other normal and pathological emotional states, and provide new insights regarding the neural substrates of pleasurable arousal in healthy men.

Adult↗