Regional brain activity during transient self-induced anxiety and anger inhealthy adults

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that transient self-induced s adness activates anterior paralimbic structures. To further examine the spe cificity of these findings and the neural substrates involved in anger and anxiety, we studied the neural correlates of the induction of anxiety and a nger in healthy adults, Methods: We used (H2O)-O-15 and positron emission tomography (PET) to measu re regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 16 healthy adults during the indu ction of transient anxiety, anger, and neutral emotions. Subjects achieved differential emotions by recalling prior life events while viewing affect-a ppropriate faces. Results: Both the anxiety and anger conditions were associated with increas ed normalized rCBF in left inferior frontal and left temporal pole regions and decreased rCBF in right posterior temporal/parietal and right superior frontal cortex, compared to the neutral induction. Additionally, compared t o neutral induction, anxiety was associated with increased rCBF in the left anterior cingulate and cuneus and decreased rCBF in right medial frontal c ortex while the anger induction was uniquely associated with increased rCBF in right temporal pot and thalamus, Conclusions: Self-generated transient states of anxiety and anger are assoc iated with both overlapping and distinct regional brain activity patterns a nd provide a template far further dissection of specific components of norm al and pathologic emotions. Biol Psychiatry 1999; 46:454-465 (C) 1999 Socie ty of Biological Psychiatry.