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Zou L, Qi Y, Shen L, Huang Y, Huang J, Xia Z, Fan M, Fan W, Chai GB, Shi QZ, Zhang Q, Yan C. The neural representations of valence transformation in indole processing. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae167. [PMID: 38652554 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Indole is often associated with a sweet and floral odor typical of jasmine flowers at low concentrations and an unpleasant, animal-like odor at high concentrations. However, the mechanism whereby the brain processes this opposite valence of indole is not fully understood yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying indole valence encoding in conversion and nonconversion groups using the smelling task to arouse pleasantness. For this purpose, 12 conversion individuals and 15 nonconversion individuals participated in an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm with low (low-indole) and high (high-indole) indole concentrations in which valence was manipulated independent of intensity. The results of this experiment showed that neural activity in the right amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex and insula was associated with valence independent of intensity. Furthermore, activation in the right orbitofrontal cortex in response to low-indole was positively associated with subjective pleasantness ratings. Conversely, activation in the right insula and amygdala in response to low-indole was positively correlated with anticipatory hedonic traits. Interestingly, while amygdala activation in response to high-indole also showed a positive correlation with these hedonic traits, such correlation was observed solely with right insula activation in response to high-indole. Additionally, activation in the right amygdala in response to low-indole was positively correlated with consummatory pleasure and hedonic traits. Regarding olfactory function, only activation in the right orbitofrontal cortex in response to high-indole was positively correlated with olfactory identification, whereas activation in the insula in response to low-indole was negatively correlated with the level of self-reported olfactory dysfunction. Based on these findings, valence transformation of indole processing in the right orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and amygdala may be associated with individual hedonic traits and perceptual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laiquan Zou
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, South Shatai Road 1023, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Qi
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, South Shatai Road 1023, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lei Shen
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 20062, China
| | - Yanyang Huang
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, South Shatai Road 1023, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiayu Huang
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, South Shatai Road 1023, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zheng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 20062, China
| | - Mingxia Fan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Wu Fan
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Fengyang Road 2, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guo-Bi Chai
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Fengyang Road 2, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qing-Zhao Shi
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Fengyang Road 2, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qidong Zhang
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Fengyang Road 2, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Chao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 20062, China
- Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science of Anhui Province on Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intelligence Intervention, South Jiuhua Road 189, Hefei 241002, China
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