title: Modulation of sensorimotor circuits during retrieval of negative Autobiographical Memories: Exploring the impact of personality dimensions.
abstract: Autobiographical Memory (AM) retrieval refers to recollection of experienced past events. Previous Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) studies have shown that presentation of emotional negative stimuli affects human motor cortex excitability resulting in larger motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Up to date no TMS studies have been carried out in order to investigate the effect of personal memories with negative emotional value on corticospinal excitability. In this study we hypothesized that negative AM retrieval will modulate corticomotor excitability and sensorimotor integration as determined by TMS neurophysiological parameters. Furthermore, we investigated whether TMS responses during retrieval of negative AM are associated with specific personality traits. Twelve healthy subjects were asked to recall either a negative or a neutral AM across two different days in a randomized order. During this memory retrieval, the following TMS parameters were recorded: MEPs; Short- interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and Intracortical facilitation (ICF); Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and Long- latency afferent inhibition (LAI). Personality traits were assessed by using the Big Five scale. Statistical analysis was performed using factorial ANOVAs and multiple linear regression models. When compared to retrieval of neutral AM, recollection of negative AM induced a larger increase in MEP amplitude, an increase in ICF, and a decrease in SAI. The neuroticism personality trait was a significant predictor of the MEP amplitude increase during retrieval of negative AM. Altogether these results indicate that cortical excitability and sensorimotor integration are selectively modulated by the valence of AM. These results provide the first TMS evidence that the modulatory effect of the AM retrieval is associated with specific personality traits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Concerto
authors.affiliation: Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Dhaval
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Tyrone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mayorga
authors.affiliation: Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chusid
authors.affiliation: Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Carmenrita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Infortuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguglia
authors.affiliation: Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sarraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA. Electronic address: fortunato.battaglia@shu.edu.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autobiographical Memories; ICF; Neuroticism; Sensorimotor integration; Transcranial magnetic stimulation