Chemosensory anxiety cues enhance the perception of fearful faces - An fMRI study

摘要: Recent evidence suggests that humans can communicate emotion via chemosensory signals. Olfactory cues signaling anxiety bias the perception of ambiguous stimuli, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms this effect are currently unknown. Here, we investigated brain responses to subtle changes in facial expressions response cues. Ten healthy individuals donated their sweat two situations: while anticipating an important oral examination (anxiety condition) and during physical exercise (control condition). Subsequently, 24 participants completed a parametrically morphed (neutral fearful) recognition task under exposure olfactory sports, fMRI scanner. Behaviorally, rated more discernible fearful faces as neutral For response, cues, increased fearfulness face corresponded activity left insula middle occipital gyrus extending into fusiform gyrus. Moreover, with higher subjective ratings fearfulness, additionally showed hippocampus. These results suggest facilitate processing socially relevant stimuli boost memory retrieval due enhanced emotional context.