title: A preliminary study of increased amygdala activation to positive affective stimuli in mania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study in hypomanic and manic patients explored how amygdala responses to affective stimuli depend on the valence of the stimuli presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 10 patients with 10 matched healthy control subjects. We measured blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the amygdala while subjects passively viewed photographs taken from the International Affective Picture System. After the fMRI session, subjects saw the pictures again and subjectively rated the emotional valence and intensity of each picture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy individuals, hypomanic or manic patients showed higher valence ratings in positive pictures and associated larger BOLD responses in the left amygdala during positive versus neutral picture viewing. This enhanced amygdala activation was correlated with Young Mania Rating Scale scores and with euphoric as opposed to irritable symptom presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased valence ratings and amygdala responses to positive affective stimuli may reflect a positive processing bias contributing to elevated mood states characteristic for euphoric mania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bermpohl
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dalanay
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kahnt
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sajonz
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heimann
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricken
authors.forename: Meline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoy
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hägele
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: Mazda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adli
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wrase
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ströhle
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000098:blood supply*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen