Abstract
Background: Converging lines of evidence have implicated the amygdala in the pathophysiology
of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We previously developed a method for measuring
automatic amygdala responses to general threat-related stimuli; in conjunction with
functional magnetic resonance imaging, we used a passive viewing task involving masked
presentations of human facial stimuli.
Methods: We applied this method to study veterans with PTSD and a comparison cohort
of combat-exposed veterans without PTSD.
Results: The findings indicate that patients with PTSD exhibit exaggerated amygdala
responses to masked-fearful versus masked-happy faces.
Conclusions: Although some previous neuroimaging studies of PTSD have demonstrated
amygdala recruitment in response to reminders of traumatic events, this represents
the first evidence for exaggerated amygdala responses to general negative stimuli
in PTSD. Furthermore, by using a probe that emphasizes automaticity, we provide initial
evidence of amygdala hyperresponsivity dissociated from the “top-down” influences
of medial frontal cortex.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 4,
2000
Received in revised form:
January 28,
2000
Received:
September 3,
1999
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
