15 Sep Brain Scans Can Predict Specific Spontaneous Emotions

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Kevin LaBar

Kevin S. LaBar, Ph.D.
Professor and Head, Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience Program
Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
Duke University
Durham, NC

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Emotion research is limited by a lack of objective markers of emotional states. Most human research relies on self-report, but individuals may not have good insight into their own emotions. We have developed a new way to identify emotional states using brain imaging and machine learning tools. First, we induced emotional states using film and music clips while individuals were in an MRI scanner. We trained a computer algorithm to identify the brain areas that distinguished 7 emotions from each other (fear, anger, surprise, sadness, amusement, contentment, and a neutral state). This procedure created a brain map for each of the 7 emotions. Then, a new group of participants self-reported their emotional state every 30 seconds in an MRI scanner while no stimuli were presented. We could predict which emotion was spontaneously reported by the subjects by comparing their brain scans to each of the 7 emotion maps. Finally, in a large group of 499 subjects, we found that the presence of the fear map during rest predicted state and trait anxiety while the presence of the sadness map predicted state and trait depression.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: For the first time, we are able to track specific emotions in the brain as they spontaneously occur while participants let their minds wander.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: We wish to characterize how emotions dynamically fluctuate from one state to another and to expand our inquiry into other emotions. We would also like to use these brain maps as outcome measures in clinical intervention studies.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Our approach was made possible by recent advances in computing and brain imaging and brings us closer to establishing objective biomarkers of emotional states.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Decoding Spontaneous Emotional States in the Human Brain
Philip A. Kragel,Annchen R. Knodt,Ahmad R. Hariri,Kevin S. LaBar
PLOS Biology
Published: September 14, 2016

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Last Updated on September 15, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD