Neural correlates of individual differences in anxiety sensitivity: an fMRI study using semantic priming

作者：Yang Yunbo^*; Lueken Ulrike; Wittmann Andre; Holtz Katharina; Kleint Nina Isabel; Herrmann Martin J; Sass Katharina; Jansen Andreas; Konrad Carsten; Strohle Andreas; Pfleiderer Bettina; Lotze Martin; Hamm Alfons; Deckert Juergen; Arolt Volker; Wittchen Hans Ulrich; Kircher Tilo; Straube Benjamin

来源：Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 2016, 11(8): 1245-1254.

DOI：10.1093/scan/nsw024

• anxiety sensitivity
• semantic priming
• anterior insula
• left inferior prefrontal gyrus
• amygdala

Individuals with high anxiety sensitivity (AS) have an increased risk of developing anxiety disorders and are more biased in how they process fear-related stimuli. This study investigates the neural correlates of fear-related words and word associations in high-and low-AS individuals. We used a semantic priming paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging in which three types of target words (fear symptoms, e.g. 'dizziness'; neutral, e.g. 'drink'; and pseudowords, e.g. 'salkom') were preceded by two types of prime words (fear-triggers, e.g. 'elevator'; and neutral, e.g. 'bottle'). Subjects with high AS rated fear-symptom words (vs neutral words) as more unpleasant than low-AS individuals; they also related these words more strongly to fear-triggers and showed prolonged reaction times. During the processing of fear-symptom words, greater activation in the left anterior insula was observed in high-AS subjects than in low-AS subjects. Lower activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, fusiform gyrus and bilateral amygdalae was found in high-AS subjects when fear-symptom words were preceded by fear-trigger words. The findings suggest that cognitive biases and the anterior insula play a crucial role in high-AS individuals. Furthermore, semantic processes may contribute to high AS and the risk of developing anxiety disorders.

• 出版日期2016-8