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The constructive nature of affective vision: seeing fearful scenes activates extrastriate body area.

ABSTRACT: It is part of basic emotions like fear or anger that they prepare the brain to act adaptively. Hence scenes representing emotional events are normally associated with characteristic adaptive behavior. Normally, face and body representation areas in the brain are modulated by these emotions when presented in the face or body. Here, we provide neuroimaging evidence (using functional magnetic resonance imaging) that the extrastriate body area (EBA) is highly responsive when subjects observe isolated faces presented in emotional scenes. This response of EBA to threatening scenes in which no body is present gives rise to speculation about its function. We discuss the possibility that the brain reacts proactively to the emotional meaning of the scene.

SUBMITTER: Sinke CB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3387182 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The constructive nature of affective vision: seeing fearful scenes activates extrastriate body area.

Sinke Charlotte B A CB Van den Stock Jan J Goebel Rainer R de Gelder Beatrice B

PloS one 20120629 6

It is part of basic emotions like fear or anger that they prepare the brain to act adaptively. Hence scenes representing emotional events are normally associated with characteristic adaptive behavior. Normally, face and body representation areas in the brain are modulated by these emotions when presented in the face or body. Here, we provide neuroimaging evidence (using functional magnetic resonance imaging) that the extrastriate body area (EBA) is highly responsive when subjects observe isolate ...[more]

PMID: 22768039

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