Activation of anterior paralimbic structures during guilt-related script-driven imagery

Background: Several recent neuroimaging studies have examined the neuroanat omical correlates of normal emotional states, such as happiness, sadness, f ear, anger anxiety, and disgust; however, no previous study has examined th e emotional state of guilt. Methods: In the current study, we used positron emission tomography and the script-driven imagery paradigm to study regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF ) during the transient emotional experience of guilt in, eight healthy male participants. In the Guilt condition, participants recalled and imagined p articipating in a personal event involving the most guilt they had ever exp erienced. In the Neutral condition, participants recalled and imagined part icipating in an emotionally neutral personal event. Results: In the Guilt versus Neutral comparison, rCBF increases occurred in anterior paralimbic regions of the brain: bilateral anterior temporal pole s, anterior cingulate gyrus, and left anterior insular cortex/inferior fron tal gyrus. Conclusions: These results, along with those of previous studies, are consi stent with the notion that anterior paralimbic regions of the brain mediate negative emotional states in healthy individuals. (C) 2000 Society of Biol ogical Psychiatry.