The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions

Brain and Behavior

Bianca P. Acevedo³  Elaine N. Aron²  Arthur Aron²  Matthew-Donald Sangster¹  Nancy Collins³ 

[1]Monmouth University, Monmouth County, New Jersey

[2]Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, New York, New York

[3]Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California

关键词: Emotion;    empathy;    highly sensitive person;    magnetic resonance imaging;    mirror neurons;    sensory processing sensitivity;   

DOI  :  10.1002/brb3.242

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Background

Theory and research suggest that sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), found in roughly 20% of humans and over 100 other species, is a trait associated with greater sensitivity and responsiveness to the environment and to social stimuli. Self-report studies have shown that high-SPS individuals are strongly affected by others' moods, but no previous study has examined neural systems engaged in response to others' emotions.

Methods

This study examined the neural correlates of SPS (measured by the standard short-form Highly Sensitive Person [HSP] scale) among 18 participants (10 females) while viewing photos of their romantic partners and of strangers displaying positive, negative, or neutral facial expressions. One year apart, 13 of the 18 participants were scanned twice.

Results

Across all conditions, HSP scores were associated with increased brain activation of regions involved in attention and action planning (in the cingulate and premotor area [PMA]). For happy and sad photo conditions, SPS was associated with activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, empathy, and action planning (e.g., cingulate, insula, inferior frontal gyrus [IFG], middle temporal gyrus [MTG], and PMA).

Conclusions

As predicted, for partner images and for happy facial photos, HSP scores were associated with stronger activation of brain regions involved in awareness, empathy, and self-other processing. These results provide evidence that awareness and responsiveness are fundamental features of SPS, and show how the brain may mediate these traits.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.