Fear is only as deep as the mind allows: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on the regulation of negative affect.

摘要: Humans have the ability to control negative affect and perceived fear. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether this regulation capacity relies on a common neural mechanism in different experimental domains. Here, we sought identify commonalities regulatory brain activation domains of fear extinction, placebo, cognitive emotion regulation. Using coordinate-based activation-likelihood estimation meta-analysis intended elucidate concordant hyperactivations associated deactivations three domains, when human subjects successfully diminished affect. Our data show that only one region ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) controlled affective responses reduced degree subjectively unpleasantness independent domain. This down-regulation was further accompanied by reduction left amygdala. Finally, soothing effect placebo treatments reappraisal strategies, but not extinction retrieval, specifically coherent hyperactivation anterior cingulate insular cortex. Collectively, our strongly imply VMPFC may represent domain-general controller aversiveness modulates phylogenetically older structures processing system. In addition, higher-level strategies engage complementary resources effectively deal with emotion-eliciting events.