Beyond the amygdala: Linguistic threat modulates peri-sylvian semantic access cortices Journal Article
| Authors: | Weisholtz, D. S.; Root, J. C.; Butler, T.; Tüscher, O.; Epstein, J.; Pan, H.; Protopopescu, X.; Goldstein, M.; Isenberg, N.; Brendel, G.; LeDoux, J.; Silbersweig, D. A.; Stern, E. |
| Article Title: | Beyond the amygdala: Linguistic threat modulates peri-sylvian semantic access cortices |
| Abstract: | In this study, healthy volunteers were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural systems involved in processing the threatening content conveyed via visually presented "threat words." The neural responses elicited by these words were compared to those elicited by matched neutral control words. The results demonstrate that linguistic threat, when presented in written form, can selectively engage areas of lateral temporal and inferior frontal cortex, distinct from the core language areas implicated in aphasia. Additionally, linguistic threat modulates neural activity in visceral/emotional systems (amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus and periaqueductal gray), and at earlier stages of the visual-linguistic processing stream involved in visual word form representations (ventral occipitotemporal cortex). We propose a model whereby limbic activation modulates activity at multiple nodes along the visual-linguistic-semantic processing stream, including a perisylvian "semantic access network" involved in decoding word meaning, suggesting a dynamic interplay between feedforward and feedback processes. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. |
| Keywords: | adult; controlled study; emotion; aphasia; fmri; functional magnetic resonance imaging; nerve cell network; reading; normal human; correlational study; frontal cortex; human experiment; language processing; brain size; temporal cortex; neuroanatomy; amygdaloid nucleus; threat; periaqueductal gray matter; functional neuroimaging; human; male; female; article; inferior frontal gyrus; parahippocampal gyrus; calcarine sulcus; eye fixation; linguistic threat; middle temporal gyrus; occipital cortex; occipitotemporal cortex; pars opercularis; pars triangularis; perisylvian semantic access network; primary auditory cortex |
| Journal Title: | Brain and Language |
| Volume: | 151 |
| ISSN: | 0093-934X |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2015-12-01 |
| Start Page: | 12 |
| End Page: | 22 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.bandl.2015.10.004 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 26575986 |
| PMCID: | PMC4743641 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 2 December 2015 -- Source: Scopus |
