title: Alexithymic features and the labeling of brief emotional facial expressions - An fMRI study.
abstract: The ability to recognize subtle facial expressions can be valuable in social interaction to infer emotions and intentions of others. Research has shown that the personality trait of alexithymia is linked to difficulties labeling facial expressions especially when these are presented with temporal constraints. The present study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying this deficit. 50 young healthy volunteers had to label briefly presented (≤100ms) emotional (happy, angry, fearful) facial expressions masked by a neutral expression while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A multi-method approach (20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia) was administered to assess alexithymic tendencies. Behavioral results point to a global deficit of alexithymic individuals in labeling brief facial expressions. Alexithymia was related to decreased response of the ventral striatum to negative facial expressions. Moreover, alexithymia was associated with lowered activation in frontal, temporal and occipital cortices. Our data suggest that alexithymic individuals have difficulties in creating appropriate representations of the emotional state of other persons under temporal constraints. These deficiencies could lead to problems in labeling other people׳s facial emotions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Klas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ihme
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 16, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lichev
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kugel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rufer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, HELIOS Hospital Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jörgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Grabe
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pampel
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jöran
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lepsien
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 16, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 11, 48149 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: thomas.suslow@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suslow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alexithymia; Emotional facial expressions; Striatum; Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia