Diminished rostral anterior cingulate activity in response to threat-related events in posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Previous brain imaging studies have reported hyperactivation of the amygdala and hypoactivation of the anterior cingulate in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients, which is believed to be an underlying neural mechanism of the PTSD symptoms. The current study specifically focuses on the abnormal activity of the rostral anterior cingulate, using a paradigm which elicits an unexpected processing conflict caused by salient emotional stimuli.


METHODS
Twelve survivors (seven men and five women) of the Taegu subway fire in 2003, who later developed PTSD, agreed to participate in this study. Twelve healthy volunteers (seven men and five women) were recruited for comparison. Functional brain images of all participants were acquired using functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a same-different judgment task, which was modified to elicit an unexpected emotional processing conflict.


RESULTS
PTSD patients, compared to comparison subjects, showed a decreased rostral anterior cingulate functioning when exposed to situations which induce an unexpected emotional processing conflict. Moreover, PTSD symptom severity was negatively correlated to the level of decrease in the rostral anterior cingulate activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide evidence that the rostral anterior cingulate functioning is impaired in PTSD patients during response-conflict situations that involve emotional stimuli.
Kim
Minue J
MJ
Department of Psychology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Chey
Jeanyung
J
Chung
Ain
A
Bae
Soojeong
S
Khang
Hyunsoo
H
Ham
Byungjoo
B
Yoon
Sujung J
SJ
Jeong
Do-Un
DU
Lyoo
In Kyoon
IK
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires