Blind rage? Heightened anger is associated with altered amygdala responses to masked and unmasked fearful faces

Psychiatry Res. 2010 Jun 30;182(3):281-3. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 May 21.

Abstract

We investigated anger-related variability in the BOLD fMRI response to crude/masked and detailed/unmasked fearful faces. Anger expression positively covaried with amygdala activation to crude fear, while trait anger negatively covaried with amygdala responses to detailed fear. This differential processing may trigger aggression without the subsequent inhibition associated with distress cues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amygdala / blood supply
  • Amygdala / physiology*
  • Anger / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Facial Expression*
  • Fear / psychology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Perceptual Masking / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Oxygen