Jorge Armony, Ph.D.
Contact
jorge.armony@mcgill.ca
6875 Boulevard LaSalle
Montréal, QC
H4H 1R3
Office:F-1146, Pavillon Frank B. Common
Office phone: (514) 761-6131 x3360
Fax: (514) 888-4064
Researcher, Douglas Research Centre
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
Lab name: Emotions, fMRI, PTSD
Theme-Based Group: Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and SuicideDivision: Human Neuroscience
Much of our current understanding of stress-related disorders – including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), phobias, panic attack, and generalized anxiety – comes from studying how the brain processes fear.
Jorge Armony, PhD conducts research on how the brain detects stimuli in the environment that may signal threat or danger, and how this mechanism interacts with other processes, such as consciousness, attention, and memory.
In his quest for answers, Jorge Armony uses several state-of-the-art research techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), behavioral and physiological measures (i.e. skin conductance and heart rate), as well as computational modeling.
He has made significant contributions toward the understanding of psychiatric disorders involving dysfunctions of the fear system. For example, Jorge Armony recently found behavioural and anatomical correlates for the modulation of spatial attention by emotion using a fear conditioning paradigm. These findings further characterized the role of the amygdala in fear processing, as well as defining selective roles for the frontal, parietal, and lateral orbitofrontal cortices in spatial attention.
Jorge Armony Laboratory
The lab uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the neural bases of human emotional processing.
The lab’s members look at how the detection of environmental stimuli (that signal impending danger) may interact with other brain processes, such as attention, memory and awareness.
This research should be particularly relevant for the understanding of certain anxiety disorders, especially PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Research Projects
- Neural bases of emotion-attention interactions in humans
J. Armony - A neurocognitive investigation of the recovery process in PTSD
J. Armony, A. Brunet - Perception of emotional non-speech vocalizations
J. Armony, P. Belin, S. Fecteau - Influence of emotional expression on memory for faces
J. Armony, M. Lepage, K. Sergerie - Processing of “unseen” emotional stimuli in hemispherectomized patients
J. Armony, S. Leh, A. Ptito - Computational models of emotion
J. Armony, E. Law, D. Precup
Post-doctoral fellow
Jen Barrett, PhD
jennifer.a.barrett@mail.mcgill.ca
Graduate Students
Erin Dickie
erin.dickie@mail.mcgill.ca
Sandra Leh, MSc
sandra_leh@hotmail.com
Karine Sergerie, MSc
karine.sergerie@douglas.mcgill.ca
Other lab: Laboratory of Martin Lepage, PhD
Undergraduate students
Caroline Chochol
cchoch@po-box.mcgill.ca
Karin Pietruska
arin.pietruska@douglas.mcgill.ca
Research staff
Rina Zelmann
rina.zelmann@douglas.mcgill.ca
Recent Publications
2024
Whitehead, Jocelyne C; Spiousas, Ignacio; Armony, Jorge L
Individual differences in the evaluation of ambiguous visual and auditory threat-related expressions Journal Article
In: Eur J Neurosci, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 370–393, 2024, ISSN: 1460-9568.
@article{pmid38185821,
title = {Individual differences in the evaluation of ambiguous visual and auditory threat-related expressions},
author = {Jocelyne C Whitehead and Ignacio Spiousas and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1111/ejn.16220},
issn = {1460-9568},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-02-01},
journal = {Eur J Neurosci},
volume = {59},
number = {3},
pages = {370--393},
abstract = {This study investigated the neural correlates of the judgement of auditory and visual ambiguous threat-related information, and the influence of state anxiety on this process. Healthy subjects were scanned using a fast, high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) multiband sequence while they performed a two-alternative forced-choice emotion judgement task on faces and vocal utterances conveying explicit anger or fear, as well as ambiguous ones. Critically, the latter was specific to each subject, obtained through a morphing procedure and selected prior to scanning following a perceptual decision-making task. Behavioural results confirmed a greater task-difficulty for subject-specific ambiguous stimuli and also revealed a judgement bias for visual fear, and, to a lesser extent, for auditory anger. Imaging results showed increased activity in regions of the salience and frontoparietal control networks (FPCNs) and deactivation in areas of the default mode network for ambiguous, relative to explicit, expressions. In contrast, the right amygdala (AMG) responded more strongly to explicit stimuli. Interestingly, its response to the same ambiguous stimulus depended on the subjective judgement of the expression. Finally, we found that behavioural and neural differences between ambiguous and explicit expressions decreased as a function of state anxiety scores. Taken together, our results show that behavioural and brain responses to emotional expressions are determined not only by emotional clarity but also modality and the subjects' subjective perception of the emotion expressed, and that some of these responses are modulated by state anxiety levels.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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This study investigated the neural correlates of the judgement of auditory and visual ambiguous threat-related information, and the influence of state anxiety on this process. Healthy subjects were scanned using a fast, high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) multiband sequence while they performed a two-alternative forced-choice emotion judgement task on faces and vocal utterances conveying explicit anger or fear, as well as ambiguous ones. Critically, the latter was specific to each subject, obtained through a morphing procedure and selected prior to scanning following a perceptual decision-making task. Behavioural results confirmed a greater task-difficulty for subject-specific ambiguous stimuli and also revealed a judgement bias for visual fear, and, to a lesser extent, for auditory anger. Imaging results showed increased activity in regions of the salience and frontoparietal control networks (FPCNs) and deactivation in areas of the default mode network for ambiguous, relative to explicit, expressions. In contrast, the right amygdala (AMG) responded more strongly to explicit stimuli. Interestingly, its response to the same ambiguous stimulus depended on the subjective judgement of the expression. Finally, we found that behavioural and neural differences between ambiguous and explicit expressions decreased as a function of state anxiety scores. Taken together, our results show that behavioural and brain responses to emotional expressions are determined not only by emotional clarity but also modality and the subjects' subjective perception of the emotion expressed, and that some of these responses are modulated by state anxiety levels.
2023
Mauchand, Maël; Armony, Jorge L; Pell, Marc D
The vocal side of empathy: neural correlates of pain perception in spoken complaints Journal Article
In: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, vol. 19, no. 1, 2023, ISSN: 1749-5024.
@article{pmid38102388,
title = {The vocal side of empathy: neural correlates of pain perception in spoken complaints},
author = {Maël Mauchand and Jorge L Armony and Marc D Pell},
doi = {10.1093/scan/nsad075},
issn = {1749-5024},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-01},
journal = {Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
abstract = {In the extensive neuroimaging literature on empathy for pain, few studies have investigated how this phenomenon may relate to everyday social situations such as spoken interactions. The present study used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess how complaints, as vocal expressions of pain, are empathically processed by listeners and how these empathic responses may vary based on speakers' vocal expression and cultural identity. Twenty-four French participants listened to short utterances describing a painful event, which were either produced in a neutral-sounding or complaining voice by both in-group (French) and out-group (French Canadian) speakers. Results suggest that the perception of suffering from a complaining voice increased activity in the emotional voice areas, composed of voice-sensitive temporal regions interacting with prefrontal cortices and the amygdala. The Salience and Theory of Mind networks, associated with affective and cognitive aspects of empathy, also showed prosody-related activity and specifically correlated with behavioral evaluations of suffering by listeners. Complaints produced by in- vs out-group speakers elicited sensorimotor and default mode activity, respectively, suggesting accent-based changes in empathic perspective. These results, while reaffirming the role of key networks in tasks involving empathy, highlight the importance of vocal expression information and social categorization processes when perceiving another's suffering during social interactions.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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In the extensive neuroimaging literature on empathy for pain, few studies have investigated how this phenomenon may relate to everyday social situations such as spoken interactions. The present study used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess how complaints, as vocal expressions of pain, are empathically processed by listeners and how these empathic responses may vary based on speakers' vocal expression and cultural identity. Twenty-four French participants listened to short utterances describing a painful event, which were either produced in a neutral-sounding or complaining voice by both in-group (French) and out-group (French Canadian) speakers. Results suggest that the perception of suffering from a complaining voice increased activity in the emotional voice areas, composed of voice-sensitive temporal regions interacting with prefrontal cortices and the amygdala. The Salience and Theory of Mind networks, associated with affective and cognitive aspects of empathy, also showed prosody-related activity and specifically correlated with behavioral evaluations of suffering by listeners. Complaints produced by in- vs out-group speakers elicited sensorimotor and default mode activity, respectively, suggesting accent-based changes in empathic perspective. These results, while reaffirming the role of key networks in tasks involving empathy, highlight the importance of vocal expression information and social categorization processes when perceiving another's suffering during social interactions.
González-Alemañy, Eduardo; Olivera, Anelin Dayris Rodríguez; Bobes, María Antonieta; Armony, Jorge L
Brain structural correlates of psychopathic traits in elite female combat-sports athletes Journal Article
In: Eur J Neurosci, vol. 58, no. 10, pp. 4255–4263, 2023, ISSN: 1460-9568.
@article{pmid37884281,
title = {Brain structural correlates of psychopathic traits in elite female combat-sports athletes},
author = {Eduardo González-Alemañy and Anelin Dayris Rodríguez Olivera and María Antonieta Bobes and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1111/ejn.16171},
issn = {1460-9568},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-01},
journal = {Eur J Neurosci},
volume = {58},
number = {10},
pages = {4255--4263},
abstract = {Psychopathy is characterized by glibness and superficial charm, as well as a lack of empathy, guilt and remorse, and is often accompanied by antisocial behaviour. The cerebral bases of this syndrome have been mostly studied in violent subjects or those with a criminal history. However, the antisocial component of psychopathy is not central to its conceptualization, and in fact, psychopathic traits are present in well-adjusted, non-criminal individuals within the general population. Interestingly, certain psychopathy characteristics appear to be particularly pronounced in some groups or professions. Importantly, as these so-called adaptive or successful psychopaths do not show antisocial tendencies or have significant psychiatric comorbidities, they may represent an ideal population to study this trait. Here, we investigated such a group, specifically elite female judo athletes, and compared them with matched non-athletes. Participants completed psychopathy, anger, perspective-taking and empathic concern questionnaires and underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Grey matter volume (GMV) was computed using voxel-based morphometry from the T1-weighted images. Athletes scored significantly higher in primary psychopathy and anger and lower in empathy and perspective taking. They also exhibited smaller GMV in the right temporal pole, left occipital cortex and left amygdala/hippocampus. GMV values for the latter cluster significantly correlated with primary psychopathy scores across both groups. These results confirm and extend previous findings to a little-studied population and provide support for the conceptualization of psychopathy as a dimensional personality trait which not only is not necessarily associated with antisocial behaviour but may potentially have adaptive value.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Psychopathy is characterized by glibness and superficial charm, as well as a lack of empathy, guilt and remorse, and is often accompanied by antisocial behaviour. The cerebral bases of this syndrome have been mostly studied in violent subjects or those with a criminal history. However, the antisocial component of psychopathy is not central to its conceptualization, and in fact, psychopathic traits are present in well-adjusted, non-criminal individuals within the general population. Interestingly, certain psychopathy characteristics appear to be particularly pronounced in some groups or professions. Importantly, as these so-called adaptive or successful psychopaths do not show antisocial tendencies or have significant psychiatric comorbidities, they may represent an ideal population to study this trait. Here, we investigated such a group, specifically elite female judo athletes, and compared them with matched non-athletes. Participants completed psychopathy, anger, perspective-taking and empathic concern questionnaires and underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Grey matter volume (GMV) was computed using voxel-based morphometry from the T1-weighted images. Athletes scored significantly higher in primary psychopathy and anger and lower in empathy and perspective taking. They also exhibited smaller GMV in the right temporal pole, left occipital cortex and left amygdala/hippocampus. GMV values for the latter cluster significantly correlated with primary psychopathy scores across both groups. These results confirm and extend previous findings to a little-studied population and provide support for the conceptualization of psychopathy as a dimensional personality trait which not only is not necessarily associated with antisocial behaviour but may potentially have adaptive value.
Deleglise, Alvaro; Donnelly-Kehoe, Patricio Andres; Yeffal, Abraham; Jacobacci, Florencia; Jovicich, Jorge; Amaro, Edson; Armony, Jorge L; Doyon, Julien; Della-Maggiore, Valeria
Human motor sequence learning drives transient changes in network topology and hippocampal connectivity early during memory consolidation Journal Article
In: Cereb Cortex, vol. 33, no. 10, pp. 6120–6131, 2023, ISSN: 1460-2199.
@article{pmid36587288,
title = {Human motor sequence learning drives transient changes in network topology and hippocampal connectivity early during memory consolidation},
author = {Alvaro Deleglise and Patricio Andres Donnelly-Kehoe and Abraham Yeffal and Florencia Jacobacci and Jorge Jovicich and Edson Amaro and Jorge L Armony and Julien Doyon and Valeria Della-Maggiore},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhac489},
issn = {1460-2199},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-05-01},
journal = {Cereb Cortex},
volume = {33},
number = {10},
pages = {6120--6131},
abstract = {In the last decade, the exclusive role of the hippocampus in human declarative learning has been challenged. Recently, we have shown that gains in performance observed in motor sequence learning (MSL) during the quiet rest periods interleaved with practice are associated with increased hippocampal activity, suggesting a role of this structure in motor memory reactivation. Yet, skill also develops offline as memory stabilizes after training and overnight. To examine whether the hippocampus contributes to motor sequence memory consolidation, here we used a network neuroscience strategy to track its functional connectivity offline 30 min and 24 h post learning using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using a graph-analytical approach we found that MSL transiently increased network modularity, reflected in an increment in local information processing at 30 min that returned to baseline at 24 h. Within the same time window, MSL decreased the connectivity of a hippocampal-sensorimotor network, and increased the connectivity of a striatal-premotor network in an antagonistic manner. Finally, a supervised classification identified a low-dimensional pattern of hippocampal connectivity that discriminated between control and MSL data with high accuracy. The fact that changes in hippocampal connectivity were detected shortly after training supports a relevant role of the hippocampus in early stages of motor memory consolidation.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In the last decade, the exclusive role of the hippocampus in human declarative learning has been challenged. Recently, we have shown that gains in performance observed in motor sequence learning (MSL) during the quiet rest periods interleaved with practice are associated with increased hippocampal activity, suggesting a role of this structure in motor memory reactivation. Yet, skill also develops offline as memory stabilizes after training and overnight. To examine whether the hippocampus contributes to motor sequence memory consolidation, here we used a network neuroscience strategy to track its functional connectivity offline 30 min and 24 h post learning using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using a graph-analytical approach we found that MSL transiently increased network modularity, reflected in an increment in local information processing at 30 min that returned to baseline at 24 h. Within the same time window, MSL decreased the connectivity of a hippocampal-sensorimotor network, and increased the connectivity of a striatal-premotor network in an antagonistic manner. Finally, a supervised classification identified a low-dimensional pattern of hippocampal connectivity that discriminated between control and MSL data with high accuracy. The fact that changes in hippocampal connectivity were detected shortly after training supports a relevant role of the hippocampus in early stages of motor memory consolidation.
Kondo, Fumika; Whitehead, Jocelyne C; Corbalán, Fernando; Beaulieu, Serge; Armony, Jorge L
Emotion regulation in bipolar disorder type-I: multivariate analysis of fMRI data Journal Article
In: Int J Bipolar Disord, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 12, 2023, ISSN: 2194-7511.
@article{pmid36964848,
title = {Emotion regulation in bipolar disorder type-I: multivariate analysis of fMRI data},
author = {Fumika Kondo and Jocelyne C Whitehead and Fernando Corbalán and Serge Beaulieu and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1186/s40345-023-00292-w},
issn = {2194-7511},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-01},
journal = {Int J Bipolar Disord},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {12},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder type-I (BD-I) patients are known to show emotion regulation abnormalities. In a previous fMRI study using an explicit emotion regulation paradigm, we compared responses from 19 BD-I patients and 17 matched healthy controls (HC). A standard general linear model-based univariate analysis revealed that BD patients showed increased activations in inferior frontal gyrus when instructed to decrease their emotional response as elicited by neutral images. We implemented multivariate pattern recognition analyses on the same data to examine if we could classify conditions within-group as well as HC versus BD.nnMETHODS: We reanalyzed explicit emotion regulation data using a multivariate pattern recognition approach, as implemented in PRONTO software. The original experimental paradigm consisted of a full 2 × 2 factorial design, with valence (Negative/Neutral) and instruction (Look/Decrease) as within subject factors.nnRESULTS: The multivariate models were able to accurately classify different task conditions when HC and BD were analyzed separately (63.24%-75.00%, p = 0.001-0.012). In addition, the models were able to correctly classify HC versus BD with significant accuracy in conditions where subjects were instructed to downregulate their felt emotion (59.60%-60.84%, p = 0.014-0.018). The results for HC versus BD classification demonstrated contributions from the salience network, several occipital and frontal regions, inferior parietal lobes, as well as other cortical regions, to achieve above-chance classifications.nnCONCLUSIONS: Our multivariate analysis successfully reproduced some of the main results obtained in the previous univariate analysis, confirming that these findings are not dependent on the analysis approach. In particular, both types of analyses suggest that there is a significant difference of neural patterns between conditions within each subject group. The multivariate approach also revealed that reappraisal conditions provide the most informative activity for differentiating HC versus BD, irrespective of emotional valence (negative or neutral). The current results illustrate the importance of investigating the cognitive control of emotion in BD. We also propose a set of candidate regions for further study of emotional control in BD.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder type-I (BD-I) patients are known to show emotion regulation abnormalities. In a previous fMRI study using an explicit emotion regulation paradigm, we compared responses from 19 BD-I patients and 17 matched healthy controls (HC). A standard general linear model-based univariate analysis revealed that BD patients showed increased activations in inferior frontal gyrus when instructed to decrease their emotional response as elicited by neutral images. We implemented multivariate pattern recognition analyses on the same data to examine if we could classify conditions within-group as well as HC versus BD.nnMETHODS: We reanalyzed explicit emotion regulation data using a multivariate pattern recognition approach, as implemented in PRONTO software. The original experimental paradigm consisted of a full 2 × 2 factorial design, with valence (Negative/Neutral) and instruction (Look/Decrease) as within subject factors.nnRESULTS: The multivariate models were able to accurately classify different task conditions when HC and BD were analyzed separately (63.24%-75.00%, p = 0.001-0.012). In addition, the models were able to correctly classify HC versus BD with significant accuracy in conditions where subjects were instructed to downregulate their felt emotion (59.60%-60.84%, p = 0.014-0.018). The results for HC versus BD classification demonstrated contributions from the salience network, several occipital and frontal regions, inferior parietal lobes, as well as other cortical regions, to achieve above-chance classifications.nnCONCLUSIONS: Our multivariate analysis successfully reproduced some of the main results obtained in the previous univariate analysis, confirming that these findings are not dependent on the analysis approach. In particular, both types of analyses suggest that there is a significant difference of neural patterns between conditions within each subject group. The multivariate approach also revealed that reappraisal conditions provide the most informative activity for differentiating HC versus BD, irrespective of emotional valence (negative or neutral). The current results illustrate the importance of investigating the cognitive control of emotion in BD. We also propose a set of candidate regions for further study of emotional control in BD.
Fittipaldi, Sol; Armony, Jorge L; Migeot, Joaquín; Cadaveira, Matías; Ibáñez, Agustín; Baez, Sandra
Overactivation of posterior insular, postcentral and temporal regions during preserved experience of envy in autism Journal Article
In: Eur J Neurosci, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 705–717, 2023, ISSN: 1460-9568.
@article{pmid36628571,
title = {Overactivation of posterior insular, postcentral and temporal regions during preserved experience of envy in autism},
author = {Sol Fittipaldi and Jorge L Armony and Joaquín Migeot and Matías Cadaveira and Agustín Ibáñez and Sandra Baez},
doi = {10.1111/ejn.15911},
issn = {1460-9568},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-02-01},
journal = {Eur J Neurosci},
volume = {57},
number = {4},
pages = {705--717},
abstract = {Social emotions are critical to successfully navigate in a complex social world because they promote self-regulation of behaviour. Difficulties in social behaviour are at the core of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, social emotions and their neural correlates have been scarcely investigated in this population. In particular, the experience of envy has not been addressed in ASD despite involving neurocognitive processes crucially compromised in this condition. Here, we used an fMRI adapted version of a well-validated task to investigate the subjective experience of envy and its neural correlates in adults with ASD (n = 30) in comparison with neurotypical controls (n = 28). Results revealed that both groups reported similarly intense experience of envy in association with canonical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula, among other regions. However, in participants with ASD, the experience of envy was accompanied by overactivation of the posterior insula, the postcentral gyrus and the posterior superior temporal gyrus, regions subserving the processing of painful experiences and mentalizing. This pattern of results suggests that individuals with ASD may use compensatory strategies based on the embodied amplification of pain and additional mentalizing efforts to shape their subjective experience of envy. Results have relevant implications to better understand the heterogeneity of this condition and to develop new intervention targets.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Social emotions are critical to successfully navigate in a complex social world because they promote self-regulation of behaviour. Difficulties in social behaviour are at the core of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, social emotions and their neural correlates have been scarcely investigated in this population. In particular, the experience of envy has not been addressed in ASD despite involving neurocognitive processes crucially compromised in this condition. Here, we used an fMRI adapted version of a well-validated task to investigate the subjective experience of envy and its neural correlates in adults with ASD (n = 30) in comparison with neurotypical controls (n = 28). Results revealed that both groups reported similarly intense experience of envy in association with canonical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula, among other regions. However, in participants with ASD, the experience of envy was accompanied by overactivation of the posterior insula, the postcentral gyrus and the posterior superior temporal gyrus, regions subserving the processing of painful experiences and mentalizing. This pattern of results suggests that individuals with ASD may use compensatory strategies based on the embodied amplification of pain and additional mentalizing efforts to shape their subjective experience of envy. Results have relevant implications to better understand the heterogeneity of this condition and to develop new intervention targets.
Fittipaldi, Sol; Armony, Jorge L; García, Adolfo M; Migeot, Joaquín; Cadaveira, Matías; Ibáñez, Agustín; Baez, Sandra
Emotional descriptions increase accidental harm punishment and its cortico-limbic signatures during moral judgment in autism Journal Article
In: Sci Rep, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1745, 2023, ISSN: 2045-2322.
@article{pmid36720905,
title = {Emotional descriptions increase accidental harm punishment and its cortico-limbic signatures during moral judgment in autism},
author = {Sol Fittipaldi and Jorge L Armony and Adolfo M García and Joaquín Migeot and Matías Cadaveira and Agustín Ibáñez and Sandra Baez},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-27709-x},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Sci Rep},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {1745},
abstract = {Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present difficulties in integrating mental state information in complex moral tasks. Yet, ASD research has not examined whether this process is influenced by emotions, let alone while capturing its neural bases. We investigated how language-induced emotions modulate intent-based moral judgment in ASD. In a fMRI task, 30 adults with ASD and 27 neurotypical controls read vignettes whose protagonists commit harm either accidentally or intentionally, and then decided how much punishment the protagonist deserved. Emotional content was manipulated across scenarios through the use of graphic language (designed to trigger arousing negative responses) vs. plain (just-the-facts, emotionless) language. Off-line functional connectivity correlates of task performance were also analyzed. In ASD, emotional (graphic) descriptions amplified punishment ratings of accidental harms, associated with increased activity in fronto-temporo-limbic, precentral, and postcentral/supramarginal regions (critical for emotional and empathic processes), and reduced connectivity among the orbitofrontal cortex and the angular gyrus (involved in mentalizing). Language manipulation did not influence intentional harm processing in ASD. In conclusion, in arousing and ambiguous social situations that lack intentionality clues (i.e. graphic accidental harm scenarios), individuals with ASD would misuse their emotional responses as the main source of information to guide their moral decisions. Conversely, in face of explicit harmful intentions, they would be able to compensate their socioemotional alterations and assign punishment through non-emotional pathways. Despite limitations, such as the small sample size and low ecological validity of the task, results of the present study proved reliable and have relevant theoretical and translational implications.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present difficulties in integrating mental state information in complex moral tasks. Yet, ASD research has not examined whether this process is influenced by emotions, let alone while capturing its neural bases. We investigated how language-induced emotions modulate intent-based moral judgment in ASD. In a fMRI task, 30 adults with ASD and 27 neurotypical controls read vignettes whose protagonists commit harm either accidentally or intentionally, and then decided how much punishment the protagonist deserved. Emotional content was manipulated across scenarios through the use of graphic language (designed to trigger arousing negative responses) vs. plain (just-the-facts, emotionless) language. Off-line functional connectivity correlates of task performance were also analyzed. In ASD, emotional (graphic) descriptions amplified punishment ratings of accidental harms, associated with increased activity in fronto-temporo-limbic, precentral, and postcentral/supramarginal regions (critical for emotional and empathic processes), and reduced connectivity among the orbitofrontal cortex and the angular gyrus (involved in mentalizing). Language manipulation did not influence intentional harm processing in ASD. In conclusion, in arousing and ambiguous social situations that lack intentionality clues (i.e. graphic accidental harm scenarios), individuals with ASD would misuse their emotional responses as the main source of information to guide their moral decisions. Conversely, in face of explicit harmful intentions, they would be able to compensate their socioemotional alterations and assign punishment through non-emotional pathways. Despite limitations, such as the small sample size and low ecological validity of the task, results of the present study proved reliable and have relevant theoretical and translational implications.
Wainio-Theberge, Soren; Armony, Jorge L
Antisocial and impulsive personality traits are linked to individual differences in somatosensory maps of emotion Journal Article
In: Sci Rep, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 675, 2023, ISSN: 2045-2322.
@article{pmid36635384,
title = {Antisocial and impulsive personality traits are linked to individual differences in somatosensory maps of emotion},
author = {Soren Wainio-Theberge and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-27880-1},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Sci Rep},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {675},
abstract = {Somatosensory experience is an important component of emotion, playing a prominent role in many traditional emotion theories. Nonetheless, and despite the extensive literature on the influence of individual differences in emotional processing, the relation between personality traits and emotion-related somatosensation has received little attention. Here, we addressed this question in a large sample of healthy individuals through the "bodily maps of emotion" behavioural paradigm, in which participants indicated the location and extent of their body sensations for the 6 basic and 4 additional social emotions (contempt, envy, pride, shame). We found that emotional somatosensation in specific body areas, including the heart, the stomach, and the head, was related to specific personality factors, particularly antisocial attitudes and impulsivity. Moreover, the similarity of individual participants' maps to the group-average was likewise negatively correlated with antisocial tendencies. Overall, our results suggest that differences in individuals' sensitivity to somatosensation from different body areas, as well as the typicality of their topographical patterns, may partly underlie variation in higher-order social and affective traits.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Somatosensory experience is an important component of emotion, playing a prominent role in many traditional emotion theories. Nonetheless, and despite the extensive literature on the influence of individual differences in emotional processing, the relation between personality traits and emotion-related somatosensation has received little attention. Here, we addressed this question in a large sample of healthy individuals through the "bodily maps of emotion" behavioural paradigm, in which participants indicated the location and extent of their body sensations for the 6 basic and 4 additional social emotions (contempt, envy, pride, shame). We found that emotional somatosensation in specific body areas, including the heart, the stomach, and the head, was related to specific personality factors, particularly antisocial attitudes and impulsivity. Moreover, the similarity of individual participants' maps to the group-average was likewise negatively correlated with antisocial tendencies. Overall, our results suggest that differences in individuals' sensitivity to somatosensation from different body areas, as well as the typicality of their topographical patterns, may partly underlie variation in higher-order social and affective traits.
2022
Whitehead, Jocelyne C; Armony, Jorge L
Intra-individual Reliability of Voice- and Music-elicited Responses and their Modulation by Expertise Journal Article
In: Neuroscience, vol. 487, pp. 184–197, 2022, ISSN: 1873-7544.
@article{pmid35182696,
title = {Intra-individual Reliability of Voice- and Music-elicited Responses and their Modulation by Expertise},
author = {Jocelyne C Whitehead and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.011},
issn = {1873-7544},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-04-01},
journal = {Neuroscience},
volume = {487},
pages = {184--197},
abstract = {A growing number of functional neuroimaging studies have identified regions within the temporal lobe, particularly along the planum polare and planum temporale, that respond more strongly to music than other types of acoustic stimuli, including voice. This "music preferred" regions have been reported using a variety of stimulus sets, paradigms and analysis approaches and their consistency across studies confirmed through meta-analyses. However, the critical question of intra-subject reliability of these responses has received less attention. Here, we directly assessed this important issue by contrasting brain responses to musical vs. vocal stimuli in the same subjects across three consecutive fMRI runs, using different types of stimuli. Moreover, we investigated whether these music- and voice-preferred responses were reliably modulated by expertise. Results demonstrated that music-preferred activity previously reported in temporal regions, and its modulation by expertise, exhibits a high intra-subject reliability. However, we also found that activity in some extra-temporal regions, such as the precentral and middle frontal gyri, did depend on the particular stimuli employed, which may explain why these are less consistently reported in the literature. Taken together, our findings confirm and extend the notion that specific regions in the brain consistently respond more strongly to certain socially-relevant stimulus categories, such as faces, voices and music, but that some of these responses appear to depend, at least to some extent, on the specific features of the paradigm employed.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A growing number of functional neuroimaging studies have identified regions within the temporal lobe, particularly along the planum polare and planum temporale, that respond more strongly to music than other types of acoustic stimuli, including voice. This "music preferred" regions have been reported using a variety of stimulus sets, paradigms and analysis approaches and their consistency across studies confirmed through meta-analyses. However, the critical question of intra-subject reliability of these responses has received less attention. Here, we directly assessed this important issue by contrasting brain responses to musical vs. vocal stimuli in the same subjects across three consecutive fMRI runs, using different types of stimuli. Moreover, we investigated whether these music- and voice-preferred responses were reliably modulated by expertise. Results demonstrated that music-preferred activity previously reported in temporal regions, and its modulation by expertise, exhibits a high intra-subject reliability. However, we also found that activity in some extra-temporal regions, such as the precentral and middle frontal gyri, did depend on the particular stimuli employed, which may explain why these are less consistently reported in the literature. Taken together, our findings confirm and extend the notion that specific regions in the brain consistently respond more strongly to certain socially-relevant stimulus categories, such as faces, voices and music, but that some of these responses appear to depend, at least to some extent, on the specific features of the paradigm employed.
Dubé, Laurette; Silveira, Patricia P; Nielsen, Daiva E; Moore, Spencer; Paquet, Catherine; Cisneros-Franco, J Miguel; Kemp, Gina; Knauper, Bärbel; Ma, Yu; Khan, Mehmood; Bartlett-Esquilant, Gillian; Evans, Alan C; Fellows, Lesley K; Armony, Jorge L; Spreng, R Nathan; Nie, Jian-Yun; Brown, Shawn T; Northoff, Georg; Bzdok, Danilo
From Precision Medicine to Precision Convergence for Multilevel Resilience-The Aging Brain and Its Social Isolation Journal Article
In: Front Public Health, vol. 10, pp. 720117, 2022, ISSN: 2296-2565.
@article{pmid35865245,
title = {From Precision Medicine to Precision Convergence for Multilevel Resilience-The Aging Brain and Its Social Isolation},
author = {Laurette Dubé and Patricia P Silveira and Daiva E Nielsen and Spencer Moore and Catherine Paquet and J Miguel Cisneros-Franco and Gina Kemp and Bärbel Knauper and Yu Ma and Mehmood Khan and Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant and Alan C Evans and Lesley K Fellows and Jorge L Armony and R Nathan Spreng and Jian-Yun Nie and Shawn T Brown and Georg Northoff and Danilo Bzdok},
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2022.720117},
issn = {2296-2565},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Front Public Health},
volume = {10},
pages = {720117},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2021
Xu, Hanjian; Armony, Jorge L
Influence of emotional prosody, content, and repetition on memory recognition of speaker identity Journal Article
In: Q J Exp Psychol (Hove), vol. 74, no. 7, pp. 1185–1201, 2021, ISSN: 1747-0226.
@article{pmid33586530,
title = {Influence of emotional prosody, content, and repetition on memory recognition of speaker identity},
author = {Hanjian Xu and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1177/1747021821998557},
issn = {1747-0226},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-07-01},
journal = {Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)},
volume = {74},
number = {7},
pages = {1185--1201},
abstract = {Recognising individuals through their voice requires listeners to form an invariant representation of the speaker's identity, immune to episodic changes that may occur between encounters. We conducted two experiments to investigate to what extent within-speaker stimulus variability influences different behavioural indices of implicit and explicit identity recognition memory, using short sentences with semantically neutral content. In Experiment 1, we assessed how speaker recognition was affected by changes in prosody (fearful to neutral, and vice versa in a between-group design) and speech content. Results revealed that, regardless of encoding prosody, changes in prosody, independent of content, or changes in content, when prosody was kept unchanged, led to a reduced accuracy in explicit voice recognition. In contrast, both groups exhibited the same pattern of response times (RTs) for correctly recognised speakers: faster responses to fearful than neutral stimuli, and a facilitating effect for same-content stimuli only for neutral sentences. In Experiment 2, we investigated whether an invariant representation of a speaker's identity benefitted from exposure to different exemplars varying in emotional prosody (fearful and happy) and content ( condition), compared to repeated presentations of a single sentence ( We found a significant repetition priming effect (i.e., reduced RTs over repetitions of the same voice identity) only for speakers in the condition during encoding, but faster RTs when correctly recognising old speakers from the , compared to the , condition. Overall, our findings confirm that changes in emotional prosody and/or speech content can affect listeners' implicit and explicit recognition of newly familiarised speakers.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Recognising individuals through their voice requires listeners to form an invariant representation of the speaker's identity, immune to episodic changes that may occur between encounters. We conducted two experiments to investigate to what extent within-speaker stimulus variability influences different behavioural indices of implicit and explicit identity recognition memory, using short sentences with semantically neutral content. In Experiment 1, we assessed how speaker recognition was affected by changes in prosody (fearful to neutral, and vice versa in a between-group design) and speech content. Results revealed that, regardless of encoding prosody, changes in prosody, independent of content, or changes in content, when prosody was kept unchanged, led to a reduced accuracy in explicit voice recognition. In contrast, both groups exhibited the same pattern of response times (RTs) for correctly recognised speakers: faster responses to fearful than neutral stimuli, and a facilitating effect for same-content stimuli only for neutral sentences. In Experiment 2, we investigated whether an invariant representation of a speaker's identity benefitted from exposure to different exemplars varying in emotional prosody (fearful and happy) and content ( condition), compared to repeated presentations of a single sentence ( We found a significant repetition priming effect (i.e., reduced RTs over repetitions of the same voice identity) only for speakers in the condition during encoding, but faster RTs when correctly recognising old speakers from the , compared to the , condition. Overall, our findings confirm that changes in emotional prosody and/or speech content can affect listeners' implicit and explicit recognition of newly familiarised speakers.
2020
Jacobacci, Florencia; Armony, Jorge L; Yeffal, Abraham; Lerner, Gonzalo; Amaro, Edson; Jovicich, Jorge; Doyon, Julien; Della-Maggiore, Valeria
Rapid hippocampal plasticity supports motor sequence learning Journal Article
In: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 117, no. 38, pp. 23898–23903, 2020, ISSN: 1091-6490.
@article{pmid32900965,
title = {Rapid hippocampal plasticity supports motor sequence learning},
author = {Florencia Jacobacci and Jorge L Armony and Abraham Yeffal and Gonzalo Lerner and Edson Amaro and Jorge Jovicich and Julien Doyon and Valeria Della-Maggiore},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2009576117},
issn = {1091-6490},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-09-01},
journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A},
volume = {117},
number = {38},
pages = {23898--23903},
abstract = {Recent evidence suggests that gains in performance observed while humans learn a novel motor sequence occur during the quiet rest periods interleaved with practice (micro-offline gains, MOGs). This phenomenon is reminiscent of memory replay observed in the hippocampus during spatial learning in rodents. Whether the hippocampus is also involved in the production of MOGs remains currently unknown. Using a multimodal approach in humans, here we show that activity in the hippocampus and the precuneus increases during the quiet rest periods and predicts the level of MOGs before asymptotic performance is achieved. These functional changes were followed by rapid alterations in brain microstructure in the order of minutes, suggesting that the same network that reactivates during the quiet periods of training undergoes structural plasticity. Our work points to the involvement of the hippocampal system in the reactivation of procedural memories.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Recent evidence suggests that gains in performance observed while humans learn a novel motor sequence occur during the quiet rest periods interleaved with practice (micro-offline gains, MOGs). This phenomenon is reminiscent of memory replay observed in the hippocampus during spatial learning in rodents. Whether the hippocampus is also involved in the production of MOGs remains currently unknown. Using a multimodal approach in humans, here we show that activity in the hippocampus and the precuneus increases during the quiet rest periods and predicts the level of MOGs before asymptotic performance is achieved. These functional changes were followed by rapid alterations in brain microstructure in the order of minutes, suggesting that the same network that reactivates during the quiet periods of training undergoes structural plasticity. Our work points to the involvement of the hippocampal system in the reactivation of procedural memories.
Jacobacci, Florencia; Jovicich, Jorge; Lerner, Gonzalo; Amaro, Edson; Armony, Jorge L; Doyon, Julien; Della-Maggiore, Valeria
Improving Spatial Normalization of Brain Diffusion MRI to Measure Longitudinal Changes of Tissue Microstructure in the Cortex and White Matter Journal Article
In: J Magn Reson Imaging, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 766–775, 2020, ISSN: 1522-2586.
@article{pmid32061044,
title = {Improving Spatial Normalization of Brain Diffusion MRI to Measure Longitudinal Changes of Tissue Microstructure in the Cortex and White Matter},
author = {Florencia Jacobacci and Jorge Jovicich and Gonzalo Lerner and Edson Amaro and Jorge L Armony and Julien Doyon and Valeria Della-Maggiore},
doi = {10.1002/jmri.27092},
issn = {1522-2586},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-09-01},
journal = {J Magn Reson Imaging},
volume = {52},
number = {3},
pages = {766--775},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) are frequently used to evaluate longitudinal changes in white matter (WM) microstructure. Recently, there has been a growing interest in identifying experience-dependent plasticity in gray matter using MD. Improving registration has thus become a major goal to enhance the detection of subtle longitudinal changes in cortical microstructure.nnPURPOSE: To optimize normalization of diffusion tensor images (DTI) to improve registration in gray matter and reduce variability associated with multisession registrations.nnSTUDY TYPE: Prospective longitudinal study.nnSUBJECTS: Twenty-one healthy subjects (18-31 years old) underwent nine MRI scanning sessions each.nnFIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T, diffusion-weighted multiband-accelerated sequence, MP2RAGE sequence.nnASSESSMENT: Diffusion-weighted images were registered to standard space using different pipelines that varied in the features used for normalization, namely, the nonlinear registration algorithm (FSL vs. ANTs), the registration target (FA-based vs. T -based templates), and the use of intermediate individual (FA-based or T -based) targets. We compared the across-session test-retest reproducibility error of these normalization approaches for FA and MD in white and gray matter.nnSTATISTICAL TESTS: Reproducibility errors were compared using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with pipeline as the within-subject factor.nnRESULTS: The registration of FA data to the FMRIB58 FA atlas using ANTs yielded lower reproducibility errors in white matter (P < 0.0001) with respect to FSL. Moreover, using the MNI152 T template as the target of registration resulted in lower reproducibility errors for MD (P < 0.0001), whereas the FMRIB58 FA template performed better for FA (P < 0.0001). Finally, the use of an intermediate individual template improved reproducibility when registration of the FA images to the MNI152 T was carried out within modality (FA-FA) (P < 0.05), but not via a T -based individual template.nnDATA CONCLUSION: A normalization approach using ANTs to register FA images to the MNI152 T template via an individual FA template minimized test-retest reproducibility errors both for gray and white matter.nnLEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:766-775.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) are frequently used to evaluate longitudinal changes in white matter (WM) microstructure. Recently, there has been a growing interest in identifying experience-dependent plasticity in gray matter using MD. Improving registration has thus become a major goal to enhance the detection of subtle longitudinal changes in cortical microstructure.nnPURPOSE: To optimize normalization of diffusion tensor images (DTI) to improve registration in gray matter and reduce variability associated with multisession registrations.nnSTUDY TYPE: Prospective longitudinal study.nnSUBJECTS: Twenty-one healthy subjects (18-31 years old) underwent nine MRI scanning sessions each.nnFIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T, diffusion-weighted multiband-accelerated sequence, MP2RAGE sequence.nnASSESSMENT: Diffusion-weighted images were registered to standard space using different pipelines that varied in the features used for normalization, namely, the nonlinear registration algorithm (FSL vs. ANTs), the registration target (FA-based vs. T -based templates), and the use of intermediate individual (FA-based or T -based) targets. We compared the across-session test-retest reproducibility error of these normalization approaches for FA and MD in white and gray matter.nnSTATISTICAL TESTS: Reproducibility errors were compared using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with pipeline as the within-subject factor.nnRESULTS: The registration of FA data to the FMRIB58 FA atlas using ANTs yielded lower reproducibility errors in white matter (P < 0.0001) with respect to FSL. Moreover, using the MNI152 T template as the target of registration resulted in lower reproducibility errors for MD (P < 0.0001), whereas the FMRIB58 FA template performed better for FA (P < 0.0001). Finally, the use of an intermediate individual template improved reproducibility when registration of the FA images to the MNI152 T was carried out within modality (FA-FA) (P < 0.05), but not via a T -based individual template.nnDATA CONCLUSION: A normalization approach using ANTs to register FA images to the MNI152 T template via an individual FA template minimized test-retest reproducibility errors both for gray and white matter.nnLEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:766-775.
2019
Whitehead, Jocelyne C; Armony, Jorge L
Multivariate fMRI pattern analysis of fear perception across modalities Journal Article
In: Eur J Neurosci, vol. 49, no. 12, pp. 1552–1563, 2019, ISSN: 1460-9568.
@article{pmid30589141,
title = {Multivariate fMRI pattern analysis of fear perception across modalities},
author = {Jocelyne C Whitehead and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1111/ejn.14322},
issn = {1460-9568},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-06-01},
journal = {Eur J Neurosci},
volume = {49},
number = {12},
pages = {1552--1563},
abstract = {The emotional expression of fear can be processed through a number of modalities, and of varying forms, however, much of the functional imaging literature has centered on investigating fear as expressed through faces. Findings point to an active involvement of the amygdala, and remain fairly consistent in other studies of unimodal fear perception; however, few studies have looked at within-subject cross-modal responses to fear. Thus, we approached this inquiry by testing 30 healthy young adults with fast, high-resolution fMRI, recording the neural responses of fear perception, as expressed through faces, bodies, prosody, and vocalizations. The study was analyzed using a multivariate approach (multi-voxel pattern analysis) and yielded a significant distinction in the responses associated with the perception of fearful vs. neutral emotions. Calculated weights highlighted areas in the amygdala and surrounding subcortical structures as contributing the greatest to the discrimination; however, a whole-brain analysis was necessary to obtain above-chance classification accuracy, suggesting that processing fear across modalities likely involves a broad, distributed network. Thus, our findings support a multivariate approach to studying a highly complex construct such as emotion, as it accounts for multiple voxels simultaneously and can accommodate the high subject-level variability that oftentimes comes with studying emotion perception.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The emotional expression of fear can be processed through a number of modalities, and of varying forms, however, much of the functional imaging literature has centered on investigating fear as expressed through faces. Findings point to an active involvement of the amygdala, and remain fairly consistent in other studies of unimodal fear perception; however, few studies have looked at within-subject cross-modal responses to fear. Thus, we approached this inquiry by testing 30 healthy young adults with fast, high-resolution fMRI, recording the neural responses of fear perception, as expressed through faces, bodies, prosody, and vocalizations. The study was analyzed using a multivariate approach (multi-voxel pattern analysis) and yielded a significant distinction in the responses associated with the perception of fearful vs. neutral emotions. Calculated weights highlighted areas in the amygdala and surrounding subcortical structures as contributing the greatest to the discrimination; however, a whole-brain analysis was necessary to obtain above-chance classification accuracy, suggesting that processing fear across modalities likely involves a broad, distributed network. Thus, our findings support a multivariate approach to studying a highly complex construct such as emotion, as it accounts for multiple voxels simultaneously and can accommodate the high subject-level variability that oftentimes comes with studying emotion perception.
2018
Whitehead, Jocelyne C; Armony, Jorge L
Singing in the brain: Neural representation of music and voice as revealed by fMRI Journal Article
In: Hum Brain Mapp, vol. 39, no. 12, pp. 4913–4924, 2018, ISSN: 1097-0193.
@article{pmid30120854,
title = {Singing in the brain: Neural representation of music and voice as revealed by fMRI},
author = {Jocelyne C Whitehead and Jorge L Armony},
doi = {10.1002/hbm.24333},
issn = {1097-0193},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-12-01},
journal = {Hum Brain Mapp},
volume = {39},
number = {12},
pages = {4913--4924},
abstract = {The ubiquity of music across cultures as a means of emotional expression, and its proposed evolutionary relation to speech, motivated researchers to attempt a characterization of its neural representation. Several neuroimaging studies have reported that specific regions in the anterior temporal lobe respond more strongly to music than to other auditory stimuli, including spoken voice. Nonetheless, because most studies have employed instrumental music, which has important acoustic distinctions from human voice, questions still exist as to the specificity of the observed "music-preferred" areas. Here, we sought to address this issue by testing 24 healthy young adults with fast, high-resolution fMRI, to record neural responses to a large and varied set of musical stimuli, which, critically, included a capella singing, as well as purely instrumental excerpts. Our results confirmed that music; vocal or instrumental, preferentially engaged regions in the superior STG, particularly in the anterior planum polare, bilaterally. In contrast, human voice, either spoken or sung, activated more strongly a large area along the superior temporal sulcus. Findings were consistent between univariate and multivariate analyses, as well as with the use of a "silent" sparse acquisition sequence that minimizes any potential influence of scanner noise on the resulting activations. Activity in music-preferred regions could not be accounted for by any basic acoustic parameter tested, suggesting these areas integrate, likely in a nonlinear fashion, a combination of acoustic attributes that, together, result in the perceived musicality of the stimuli, consistent with proposed hierarchical processing of complex auditory information within the temporal lobes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The ubiquity of music across cultures as a means of emotional expression, and its proposed evolutionary relation to speech, motivated researchers to attempt a characterization of its neural representation. Several neuroimaging studies have reported that specific regions in the anterior temporal lobe respond more strongly to music than to other auditory stimuli, including spoken voice. Nonetheless, because most studies have employed instrumental music, which has important acoustic distinctions from human voice, questions still exist as to the specificity of the observed "music-preferred" areas. Here, we sought to address this issue by testing 24 healthy young adults with fast, high-resolution fMRI, to record neural responses to a large and varied set of musical stimuli, which, critically, included a capella singing, as well as purely instrumental excerpts. Our results confirmed that music; vocal or instrumental, preferentially engaged regions in the superior STG, particularly in the anterior planum polare, bilaterally. In contrast, human voice, either spoken or sung, activated more strongly a large area along the superior temporal sulcus. Findings were consistent between univariate and multivariate analyses, as well as with the use of a "silent" sparse acquisition sequence that minimizes any potential influence of scanner noise on the resulting activations. Activity in music-preferred regions could not be accounted for by any basic acoustic parameter tested, suggesting these areas integrate, likely in a nonlinear fashion, a combination of acoustic attributes that, together, result in the perceived musicality of the stimuli, consistent with proposed hierarchical processing of complex auditory information within the temporal lobes.
Montagrin, Alison; Sterpenich, Virginie; Brosch, Tobias; Grandjean, Didier; Armony, Jorge; Ceravolo, Leonardo; Sander, David
Goal-relevant situations facilitate memory of neutral faces Journal Article
In: Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1269–1282, 2018, ISSN: 1531-135X.
@article{pmid30264337,
title = {Goal-relevant situations facilitate memory of neutral faces},
author = {Alison Montagrin and Virginie Sterpenich and Tobias Brosch and Didier Grandjean and Jorge Armony and Leonardo Ceravolo and David Sander},
doi = {10.3758/s13415-018-0637-x},
issn = {1531-135X},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-12-01},
journal = {Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci},
volume = {18},
number = {6},
pages = {1269--1282},
abstract = {Emotional situations are typically better remembered than neutral situations, but the psychological conditions and brain mechanisms underlying this effect remain debated. Stimulus valence and affective arousal have been suggested to explain the major role of emotional stimuli in memory facilitation. However, neither valence nor arousal are sufficient affective dimensions to explain the effect of memory facilitation. Several studies showed that negative and positive details are better remembered than neutral details. However, other studies showed that neutral information encoded and coupled with arousal did not result in a memory advantage compared with neutral information not coupled with arousal. Therefore, we suggest that the fundamental affective dimension responsible for memory facilitation is goal relevance. To test this hypothesis at behavioral and neural levels, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study and used neutral faces embedded in goal-relevant or goal-irrelevant daily life situations. At the behavioral level, we found that neutral faces encountered in goal-relevant situations were better remembered than those encountered in goal-irrelevant situations. To explain this effect, we studied neural activations involved in goal-relevant processing at encoding and in subsequent neutral face recognition. At encoding, activation of emotional brain regions (anterior cingulate, ventral striatum, ventral tegmental area, and substantia nigra) was greater for processing of goal-relevant situations than for processing of goal-irrelevant situations. At the recognition phase, despite the presentation of neutral faces, brain activation involved in social processing (superior temporal sulcus) to successfully remember identities was greater for previously encountered faces in goal-relevant than in goal-irrelevant situations.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Emotional situations are typically better remembered than neutral situations, but the psychological conditions and brain mechanisms underlying this effect remain debated. Stimulus valence and affective arousal have been suggested to explain the major role of emotional stimuli in memory facilitation. However, neither valence nor arousal are sufficient affective dimensions to explain the effect of memory facilitation. Several studies showed that negative and positive details are better remembered than neutral details. However, other studies showed that neutral information encoded and coupled with arousal did not result in a memory advantage compared with neutral information not coupled with arousal. Therefore, we suggest that the fundamental affective dimension responsible for memory facilitation is goal relevance. To test this hypothesis at behavioral and neural levels, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study and used neutral faces embedded in goal-relevant or goal-irrelevant daily life situations. At the behavioral level, we found that neutral faces encountered in goal-relevant situations were better remembered than those encountered in goal-irrelevant situations. To explain this effect, we studied neural activations involved in goal-relevant processing at encoding and in subsequent neutral face recognition. At encoding, activation of emotional brain regions (anterior cingulate, ventral striatum, ventral tegmental area, and substantia nigra) was greater for processing of goal-relevant situations than for processing of goal-irrelevant situations. At the recognition phase, despite the presentation of neutral faces, brain activation involved in social processing (superior temporal sulcus) to successfully remember identities was greater for previously encountered faces in goal-relevant than in goal-irrelevant situations.