Abstract
Familial stressors, such as weak familial connectedness, are associated with the development of maladaptive threat processing, yet little is known regarding how weak familial bonds impinge on biological mechanisms of threat processing. The present study leveraged multivoxel pattern analysis of fMRI data to compare the neural encoding of familial and nonfamilial threatening and non-threatening stimuli in adolescents who endorsed varying levels of connectedness to their families. Adolescents (N = 22, Mage = 14.38 years) reporting lower family connectedness 1 year earlier showed elevated sensitivity to familial threat, but not to nonfamilial threat in a neural network associated with threat processing, comprising left and right amygdala, and right inferior and middle temporal gyri. Results suggest that a learning history about one’s social environment may shape neural mechanisms of threat processing by sensitizing them to risk-relevant stimuli. Such findings advance our understanding of how familial stressors contribute to disordered threat processing in adolescence.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 80-89 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Social Neuroscience |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2 2019 |
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Keywords
- MVPA
- Threat
- amygdala
- fMRI
- family stressor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Development
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
Selective neural sensitivity to familial threat in adolescents with weak family bonds. / Sharp, Paul B.; Heller, Wendy; Telzer, Eva H.
In: Social Neuroscience, Vol. 14, No. 1, 02.01.2019, p. 80-89.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective neural sensitivity to familial threat in adolescents with weak family bonds
AU - Sharp, Paul B.
AU - Heller, Wendy
AU - Telzer, Eva H.
PY - 2019/1/2
Y1 - 2019/1/2
N2 - Familial stressors, such as weak familial connectedness, are associated with the development of maladaptive threat processing, yet little is known regarding how weak familial bonds impinge on biological mechanisms of threat processing. The present study leveraged multivoxel pattern analysis of fMRI data to compare the neural encoding of familial and nonfamilial threatening and non-threatening stimuli in adolescents who endorsed varying levels of connectedness to their families. Adolescents (N = 22, Mage = 14.38 years) reporting lower family connectedness 1 year earlier showed elevated sensitivity to familial threat, but not to nonfamilial threat in a neural network associated with threat processing, comprising left and right amygdala, and right inferior and middle temporal gyri. Results suggest that a learning history about one’s social environment may shape neural mechanisms of threat processing by sensitizing them to risk-relevant stimuli. Such findings advance our understanding of how familial stressors contribute to disordered threat processing in adolescence.
AB - Familial stressors, such as weak familial connectedness, are associated with the development of maladaptive threat processing, yet little is known regarding how weak familial bonds impinge on biological mechanisms of threat processing. The present study leveraged multivoxel pattern analysis of fMRI data to compare the neural encoding of familial and nonfamilial threatening and non-threatening stimuli in adolescents who endorsed varying levels of connectedness to their families. Adolescents (N = 22, Mage = 14.38 years) reporting lower family connectedness 1 year earlier showed elevated sensitivity to familial threat, but not to nonfamilial threat in a neural network associated with threat processing, comprising left and right amygdala, and right inferior and middle temporal gyri. Results suggest that a learning history about one’s social environment may shape neural mechanisms of threat processing by sensitizing them to risk-relevant stimuli. Such findings advance our understanding of how familial stressors contribute to disordered threat processing in adolescence.
KW - MVPA
KW - Threat
KW - amygdala
KW - fMRI
KW - family stressor
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85032830162&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17470919.2017.1397545
DO - 10.1080/17470919.2017.1397545
M3 - Article
C2 - 29067872
AN - SCOPUS:85032830162
VL - 14
SP - 80
EP - 89
JO - Social Neuroscience
JF - Social Neuroscience
SN - 1747-0919
IS - 1
ER -