Discrete Neural Signatures of Basic Emotions.
Categorical models of emotions posit neurally and physiologically distinct human basic emotions. We tested this assumption by using multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to classify brain activity patterns of 6 basic emotions (disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise) in 3 experiments. Emotions were induced with short movies or mental imagery during functional magnetic resonance imaging. MVPA accurately classified emotions induced by both methods, and the classification generalized from one induction condition to another and across individuals. Brain regions contributing most to the classification accuracy included medial and inferior lateral prefrontal cortices, frontal pole, precentral and postcentral gyri, precuneus, and posterior cingulate cortex. Thus, specific neural signatures across these regions hold representations of different emotional states in multimodal fashion, independently of how the emotions are induced. Similarity of subjective experiences between emotions was associated with similarity of neural patterns for the same emotions, suggesting a direct link between activity in these brain regions and the subjective emotional experience.
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.|Advanced Magnetic Imaging (AMI) Centre, Aalto NeuroImaging, School of Science, Aalto University, FI-00076 Espoo, Finland.
Heini
H
Saarimäki
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.
Athanasios
A
Gotsopoulos
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.
Iiro P
IP
Jääskeläinen
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.
Jouko
J
Lampinen
Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center and.|Department of Neurology, University Hospital, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Patrik
P
Vuilleumier
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.
Riitta
R
Hari
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.
Mikko
M
Sams
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering and.|Turku PET Center and Department of Psychology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
Lauri
L
Nummenmaa
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
MVPA; emotion; fMRI; pattern classification