Author:
Dinh Ha Trong,Nishimaru Hiroshi,Le Quan Van,Matsumoto Jumpei,Setogawa Tsuyoshi,Maior Rafael S.,Tomaz Carlos,Ono Taketoshi,Nishijo Hisao
Abstract
Ophidiophobia (snake phobia) is one of the most common specific phobias. It has been proposed that specific phobia may have an evolutionary origin, and that attentional bias to specific items may promote the onset of phobia. Noninvasive imaging studies of patients with specific phobia reported that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), especially the rostral part of the anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), and amygdala are activated during the presentation of phobogenic stimuli. We propose that the mPFC-amygdala circuit may be involved in the pathogenesis of phobia. The mPFC receives inputs from the phylogenically old subcortical visual pathway including the superior colliculus, pulvinar, and amygdala, while mPFC neurons are highly sensitive to snakes that are the first modern predator of primates, and discriminate snakes with striking postures from those with non-striking postures. Furthermore, the mPFC has been implicated in the attentional allocation and promotes amygdala-dependent aversive conditioning. These findings suggest that the rACC focuses attention on snakes, and promotes aversive conditioning to snakes, which may lead to anxiety and ophidiophobia.
Funder
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Takeda Science Foundation
University of Toyama
Subject
Behavioral Neuroscience,Cognitive Neuroscience,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Cited by
1 articles.
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