Neural responses to dynamic expressions of fear in schizophrenia

Russell, T.A., Reynaud, E., Kucharska-Pietura, K., Ecker, C., Benson, P.J., Zelaya, F., Giampietro, V., Brammer, M., David, A. and Phillips, M.L. 2007. Neural responses to dynamic expressions of fear in schizophrenia. Neuropsychologia 45 (1) , pp. 107-123. 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.04.026

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Abstract

Abnormalities in social functioning are a significant feature of schizophrenia. One critical aspect of these abnormalities is the difficulty these individuals have with the recognition of facial emotions, particularly negative expressions such as fear. The present work focuses on fear perception and its relationship to the paranoid symptoms of schizophrenia, specifically, how underlying limbic system structures (i.e. the amygdala) react when probed with dynamic fearful facial expressions. Seven paranoid and eight non-paranoid subjects (all males) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia took part in functional magnetic resonance imaging study (1.5T) examining neural responses to emerging fearful expressions contrasted with dissipating fearful expressions. Subjects viewed emerging and dissipating expressions while completing a gender discrimination task. Their brain activation was compared to that of 10 healthy male subjects. Increased hippocampal activation was seen in the non-paranoid group, while abnormalities in the bilateral amygdalae were observed only in the paranoid individuals. These patterns may represent trait-related hippocampal dysfunction, coupled with state (specifically paranoia) related amygdala abnormalities. The findings are discussed in light of models of paranoia in schizophrenia.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0028-3932
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2015 13:05
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/82426

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