Amygdala reactivity to faces at varying intensities of threat in generalized social phobia: An event-related functional MRI study
Received 18 February 2010; received in revised form 30 April 2010; accepted 5 May 2010.
Abstract
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured amygdala reactivity to faces varying on threat intensity in patients with generalized social phobia (GSP) and healthy controls. GSP patients exhibited greater amygdala reactivity to threat faces at high and moderate intensities. More subtle displays of social threat are sufficient to evoke a fear-related neural response.
aDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
bDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, Room 2744, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700, United States. Tel.: +1 734 232 0194; fax: +1 734 936 7868.
ABSTRACT