Open AccessNeural response to emotional stimuli during experimental human endotoxemia
Author(s) -
Kullmann Jennifer S.,
Grigoleit JanSebastian,
Lichte Philipp,
Kobbe Philipp,
Rosenberger Christina,
Banner Christina,
Wolf Oliver T.,
Engler Harald,
Oberbeck Reiner,
Elsenbruch Sigrid,
Bingel Ulrike,
Forsting Michael,
Gizewski Elke R.,
Schedlowski Manfred
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.22063
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , orbitofrontal cortex , psychology , prefrontal cortex , mood , aversive stimulus , lipopolysaccharide , anxiety , neuroscience , medicine , cognition , clinical psychology , psychiatry
Increases in peripheral cytokines during acute inflammation may affect various neuropsychological functions. The aim of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to investigate the effects of acute endotoxemia on mood and the neural response to emotionally aversive visual stimuli in healthy human subjects. In a double‐blind, randomized crossover study, 18 healthy males received a bolus injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.4 ng/kg) or saline. Plasma levels of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines and cortisol as well as mood ratings were analyzed together with the blood‐oxygen‐level dependent (BOLD) response during the presentation of aversive versus neutral pictures. Endotoxin administration induced pronounced transient increases in plasma levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1ra, IL‐6, IL‐10, and cortisol. Positive mood was decreased and state anxiety increased. In addition, activation of right inferior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in response to emotional visual stimuli was significantly increased in the LPS condition. Increased prefrontal activation during the presentation of emotional material may reflect enhanced cognitive regulation of emotions as an adaptive response during an acute inflammation. These findings may have implications for the putative role of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of depression. Hum Brain Mapp 34:2217–2227, 2013 . © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.