Neural Basis of Dispositional Awe

Fang Guan; Fang Guan; Fang Guan; Yanhui Xiang; Yanhui Xiang; Outong Chen; Outong Chen; Outong Chen; Weixin Wang; Weixin Wang; Weixin Wang; Jun Chen; Jun Chen; Jun Chen

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00209

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (Sep 2018)

Neural Basis of Dispositional Awe

Fang Guan,
Fang Guan,
Fang Guan,
Yanhui Xiang,
Yanhui Xiang,
Outong Chen,
Outong Chen,
Outong Chen,
Weixin Wang,
Weixin Wang,
Weixin Wang,
Jun Chen,
Jun Chen,
Jun Chen

Affiliations

Fang Guan: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Fang Guan: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Fang Guan: Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China University, Guangzhou, China
Yanhui Xiang: Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
Yanhui Xiang: Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
Outong Chen: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Outong Chen: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Outong Chen: Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China University, Guangzhou, China
Weixin Wang: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Weixin Wang: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Weixin Wang: Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China University, Guangzhou, China
Jun Chen: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Jun Chen: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Jun Chen: Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China University, Guangzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00209
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Awe differs from common positive emotions, triggered by vast stimuli, and characterized by a need for accommodation (NFA). Although studies have revealed the downstream effects of awe experience, little is known about the neural basis of dispositional awe. In the current study, we determined the neural correlation of dispositional awe by using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in 42 young healthy adults, as measured by the Dispositional Positive Emotion Scale (DPES). Results revealed that the dispositional awe score was negatively associated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), middle/posterior cingulate cortex (MCC/PCC) and middle temporal gyrus (MTG). These results suggest that individual differences in dispositional awe involve multiple brain regions related to attention, conscious self-regulation, cognitive control and social emotion. This study is the first to provide evidence for the structural neural basis of individual differences in dispositional awe.

Published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-5153 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/behavioral_neuroscience

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Abstract

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