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Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gold, AL; Morey, RA; McCarthy, G
Published in: Biol Psychiatry
February 15, 2015

BACKGROUND: Anxiety produced by environmental threats can impair goal-directed processing and is associated with a range of psychiatric disorders, particularly when aversive events occur unpredictably. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to implement controls that minimize performance disruptions from threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction by modulating activity in regions involved in threat detection, such as the amygdala. The inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) have been linked to the regulation of anxiety during threat exposure. We developed a paradigm to determine if threat-induced anxiety would enhance functional connectivity between the amygdala and IFG, OFC, and vmPFC. METHODS: Healthy adults performed a computer-gaming style task involving capturing prey and evading predators to optimize monetary rewards while exposed to the threat of unpredictable shock. Psychophysiological recording (n = 26) and functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning (n = 17) were collected during the task in separate cohorts. Task-specific changes in functional connectivity with the amygdala were examined using psychophysiological interaction analysis. RESULTS: Threat exposure resulted in greater arousal measured by increased skin conductance but did not influence performance (i.e., monetary losses or rewards). Greater functional connectivity between the right amygdala and bilateral IFG, OFC, vmPFC, anterior cingulate cortex, and frontopolar cortex was associated with threat exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to unpredictable threat modulates amygdala-PFC functional connectivity that may help maintain performance when experiencing anxiety induced by threat. Our paradigm is well-suited to explore the neural underpinnings of the anxiety response to unpredictable threat in patients with various anxiety disorders.

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Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1873-2402

Publication Date

February 15, 2015

Volume

77

Issue

4

Start / End Page

394 / 403

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychiatry
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Goals
  • Galvanic Skin Response
  • Female
  • Electroshock
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Gold, A. L., Morey, R. A., & McCarthy, G. (2015). Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction. Biol Psychiatry, 77(4), 394–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.03.030
Gold, Andrea L., Rajendra A. Morey, and Gregory McCarthy. “Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction.Biol Psychiatry 77, no. 4 (February 15, 2015): 394–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.03.030.
Gold AL, Morey RA, McCarthy G. Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction. Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 15;77(4):394–403.
Gold, Andrea L., et al. “Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction.Biol Psychiatry, vol. 77, no. 4, Feb. 2015, pp. 394–403. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.03.030.
Gold AL, Morey RA, McCarthy G. Amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during threat-induced anxiety and goal distraction. Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 15;77(4):394–403.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1873-2402

Publication Date

February 15, 2015

Volume

77

Issue

4

Start / End Page

394 / 403

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychiatry
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Goals
  • Galvanic Skin Response
  • Female
  • Electroshock