Eeg Coherence between Prefrontal and Posterior Cortical Regions is Related to Negative Personality Traits

Abstract

Comments on an article by E. M. Reiser et al. (see record 2012-20606-017). Despite the high prevalence of mood disorders, their underlying psychopathology remains poorly understood. A recent study by Reiser et al. describes a possible mechanism underlying the development and maintenance of attentional bias in depression and anxiety. Their findings regarding decoupling of prefrontal–posterior brain regions adds to the existing evidence that frontolimbic interactions facilitate the generation of task-relevant responses while inhibiting interference from emotionally distracting information. The findings suggest that prefrontal–posterior decoupling is related to individual differences in the behavioral traits of absorption and in the propensity to ruminate. Higher scores in these traits were related to loosened coupling between prefrontal cortex (PFC) and posterior cortex. Conversely, healthy controls with lower scores on absorption and rumination showed stronger prefrontal–posterior coupling. The elucidation of the neural circuitry underlying the control of emotional experience contributes significantly to our comprehension of the symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as rumination and hypervigilance, respectively. We suggest that closing the loop between the emotional and the cognitive brain is central to progress in the treatment of emotional disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)