Abstract Prior studies identify two cortical areas, posterior parahippocampal cortex and retrosplenial cortex, that preferentially activate to images of real-world scenes compared to images of other meaningful visual stimuli such as objects and faces. Behavioral and computational studies suggest that sub categories of real-world scenes differ in their visual and semantic properties. It is presently […]
Author Archives: Christine L. Larson
Full scenes produce more activation than close-up scenes and scene-diagnostic objects in retrosplenial cortex: An fMRI study.
Abstract We used fMRI to directly compare activation in two cortical regions previously identified as relevant to real-world scene processing: retrosplenial cortex and a region of posterior parahippocampal cortex functionally defined as the parahippocampal place area (PPA). We compared activation in these regions to full views of scenes from a global perspective, close-up views of […]
Differential affective responses in those with aggressive versus non-aggressive antisocial behaviors.
Abstract Affective dysfunction has been robustly tied to antisocial behavior, but little research has evaluated whether affective responses vary differentially with its aggressive (AGG) and rule-breaking (RB) subtypes. We therefore examined whether changes in negatively valenced affect (elicited via written recollection of one’s best and worst life experiences) were linked to level (i.e., low, average, […]
The possible influence of impulsivity and dietary restraint on associations between serotonin genes and binge eating.
Abstract Although serotonin (5-HT) genes are thought to be involved in the etiology of bulimia nervosa and binge eating, findings from molecular genetic studies are inconclusive. This may be due to limitations of past research, such as a failure to consider the influence of quantitative traits and gene–environment interactions. The current study investigated these issues […]
Recognizing threat: Simple geometric shapes activate neural circuitry underlying threat detection.
Abstract The urgent need to recognize danger quickly has been shown to rely on preferential processing in dedicated neural circuitry. In previous behavioral studies examining the pattern of the face when displaying anger, we found evidence that simple noncontextual geometric shapes containing downward-pointing V-shaped angles activate the perception of threat. We here report that the […]
Motivational relevance as a potential modulator of memory for affective stimuli: Can we compare snakes and cakes?
Abstract Consideration of affective dimensions beyond arousal may be useful for a more precise understanding of the effects of emotional events on episodic memory. As highlighted by Kensinger (2009), the valence of an event may differentially impact the accuracy of its recall. Paralleling work on attention, we propose that the relevance of an event or […]
Do aggression and rule-breaking have different interpersonal consequences? A study of antisocial behavior sub-types, negative affect, and hostility toward others.
Abstract There is mounting evidence that physical aggression and nonaggressive, rule-breaking delinquency constitute two separable though correlated subtypes of antisocial behavior. Even so, it remains unclear whether these behavioral subtypes have meaningfully different interpersonal correlates, particularly as they are subsumed within the same broad domain of antisocial behavior. To evaluate this, we examined whether hostile […]
Are traumatic events necessary to elicit symptoms of posttraumatic stress?
Abstract A diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been conceptualized as being precipitated by a particularly traumatic stressor (e.g., combat exposure, rape, and violent assault). Recent research suggests that common stressful events (e.g., relational problems, divorce, and expected death of a loved one) may also be capable of eliciting posttraumatic symptomatology. The current study […]
What makes an angry face look so… angry? Examining the shape of threat in children and adults
Abstract Threatening facial expressions like anger can signal potential danger. Past research has established that both adults and children have an attentional bias for angry faces, visually detecting their presence more quickly than happy or neutral faces. More recent research has suggested that specific features of angry faces (such as the downward-pointing ‘‘V’’ shaped brow) […]
MAOA T941G polymorphism and the time course of emotional recovery following unpleasant pictures
Abstract Difficulty down-regulating negative affect has been linked with anxiety and depression. In addition, recent studies have identified specific polymorphisms of the MAOA gene related to affective psychopathology. Here we examined whether genetic variation in MAOA was associated with the time course of responses to affective stimuli. Emotion-modulation of the startle blink response was measured […]
