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An Enhanced Default Approach Bias Following Amygdala Lesions in Humans.

ABSTRACT: Approach and avoidance constitute a basic dimension of all animal behavior. Although a large number of studies have investigated approach and avoidance elicited by specific sensory stimuli, comparatively little is known about default approach biases when stimulus information is absent or reduced. The amygdala is well known to contribute to approach and avoidance behaviors in response to specific sensory stimuli; we tested whether the amygdala's role might extend to situations in which stimulus information is reduced. In a novel task, 3 patients with rare bilateral amygdala lesions (and control subjects) made approach-related judgments about photos of intact faces and of the same faces with all internal facial features occluded. Direct comparisons of the judgments of these stimuli isolated a default bias. The patients showed a greater tendency than the control subjects to rate occluded faces as more approachable than whole faces. These findings suggest that the amygdala's role in approach behavior extends beyond responses to specific stimuli.

SUBMITTER: Harrison LA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4607547 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Enhanced Default Approach Bias Following Amygdala Lesions in Humans.

Harrison Laura A LA Hurlemann Rene R Adolphs Ralph R

Psychological science 20150903 10

Approach and avoidance constitute a basic dimension of all animal behavior. Although a large number of studies have investigated approach and avoidance elicited by specific sensory stimuli, comparatively little is known about default approach biases when stimulus information is absent or reduced. The amygdala is well known to contribute to approach and avoidance behaviors in response to specific sensory stimuli; we tested whether the amygdala's role might extend to situations in which stimulus i ...[more]

PMID: 26338883

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An Enhanced Default Approach Bias Following Amygdala Lesions in Humans.

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An Enhanced Default Approach Bias Following Amygdala Lesions in Humans.

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