title: Dynamic Amygdala Influences on the Fronto-Striatal Brain Mechanisms Involved in Self-Control of Impulsive Desires.
abstract: Human decisions are guided by a variety of motivational factors, such as immediate rewards, long-term goals, and emotions. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the dynamic functional interactions between the amygdala, the nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex that underlie the influences of emotions, desires, and rationality on human decisions. We found that increased functional connectivity between the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens facilitated the approach of an immediate reward in the presence of emotional information. Further, increased functional interactions of the anteroventral prefrontal cortex with the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens were associated with rational decisions in dilemma situations. These findings support previous animal studies by demonstrating that emotional signals from the amygdala and goal-oriented information from prefrontal cortices interface in the nucleus accumbens to guide human decisions and reward-directed actions.
authors: Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Gx00F6;ttingen, Germany.
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Krämer
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Gruber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D000068356:Self-Control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen