MRI Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRI, including details on magnetic resonance imaging, neuroimaging, brain tumors.

Emotional perception: correlation of functional MRI and event-related potentials.

Sabatinelli D, Lang PJ, Keil A, Bradley MM

NIMH Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

Dense-array electrocortical and functional hemodynamic measures of human brain activity were collected to assess the relationship between 2 established neural measures of emotional reactivity. Recorded in parallel sessions, the slow-wave late positive potential (LPP) and visual cortical blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals were both modulated by the rated intensity of picture arousal. The amplitude of the LPP correlated significantly with BOLD intensity in lateral occipital, inferotemporal, and parietal visual areas across picture contents. Estimated strength of modeled regional sources did not correlate significantly with regional BOLD intensity. These data suggest that the enhanced positive slow wave seen over posterior sites during emotional picture processing represents activity in a circuit of visual cortical structures, reflecting a perceptual sensitivity to the motivational relevance of visual scenes.

Published 5 April 2007 in Cereb Cortex, 17(5): 1085-91.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 MRI Research Today. All Rights Reserved.