title: Perceptual load modulates anterior cingulate cortex response to threat distractors in generalized social anxiety disorder.
abstract: Generalized social anxiety disorder (gSAD) is associated with impoverished anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) engagement during attentional control. Attentional Control Theory proposes such deficiencies may be offset when demands on resources are increased to execute goals. To test the hypothesis attentional demands affect ACC response 23 patients with gSAD and 24 matched controls performed an fMRI task involving a target letter in a string of identical targets (low load) or a target letter in a mixed letter string (high load) superimposed on fearful, angry, and neutral face distractors. Regardless of load condition, groups were similar in accuracy and reaction time. Under low load gSAD patients showed deficient rostral ACC recruitment to fearful (vs. neutral) distractors. For high load, increased activation to fearful (vs. neutral) distractors was observed in gSAD suggesting a compensatory function. Results remained after controlling for group differences in depression level. Findings indicate perceptual demand modulates ACC in gSAD.
authors: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry (MGW, DAF, KLP, HK), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Wheaton
authors: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry (MGW, DAF, KLP, HK), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Neuropsychiatric Research Program (DAF, KLP), Mental Health Service, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry (MGW, DAF, KLP, HK), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Neuropsychiatric Research Program (DAF, KLP), Mental Health Service, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; Departments of Psychology and Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: K Luan
authors: KL
authors: Phan
authors: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry (MGW, DAF, KLP, HK), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: hklumpp@psych.uic.edu.
authors: Heide
authors: H
authors: Klumpp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005149:Facial Expression; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attentional control; Brain imaging; Social anxiety disorder; Threat distractors; fMRI