Representation of perceived sound valence in the human brain

• Published in: Human brain mapping Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 2295 - 2305
• Main Authors: Viinikainen, Mikko, Kätsyri, Jari, Sams, Mikko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.10.2012; Wiley-Liss; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; amygdala; auditory cortex; Auditory Perception - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiology; Brain Mapping; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; emotion; Emotions - physiology; Female; fMRI; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system; prefrontal cortex; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; valence; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult; Human; Nervous system diseases; Amygdala; Radiodiagnosis; Central nervous system; Representation; Sound; valence; Prefrontal cortex; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Auditory cortex; Encephalon; fMRI; emotion; Auditory pathway
• ISSN: 1065-9471; 1097-0193; 1097-0193
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21362

Perceived emotional valence of sensory stimuli influences their processing in various cortical and subcortical structures. Recent evidence suggests that negative and positive valences are processed separately, not along a single linear continuum. Here, we examined how brain is activated when subjects are listening to auditory stimuli varying parametrically in perceived valence (very unpleasant–neutral–very pleasant). Seventeen healthy volunteers were scanned in 3 Tesla while listening to International Affective Digital Sounds (IADS‐2) in a block design paradigm. We found a strong quadratic U‐shaped relationship between valence and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal strength in the medial prefrontal cortex, auditory cortex, and amygdala. Signals were the weakest for neutral stimuli and increased progressively for more unpleasant or pleasant stimuli. The results strengthen the view that valence is a crucial factor in neural processing of emotions. An alternative explanation is salience, which increases with both negative and positive valences. Hum Brain Mapp 33:2295–2305, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.