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Abstract
Based on theoretical models, we investigated the dynamics of brain activation during
anticipatory anxiety using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a combined parametric/correlational
design. Subjects (16 females) anticipated the application of electrical shocks of
varying intensity resulting in four different threat levels. The parametric analysis
revealed an inverted U-function of activation in the ventral anterior cingulate cortex
(ACC) depending on the level of threat. Furthermore, the correlation analysis showed
that the association between anxiety and brain activation in the pregenual ACC was,
as a tendency, positive during moderate threat but clearly negative during strong
threat. Moreover, during strong threat, a positive correlation between anxiety and
activation was observed in the dorsal ACC, somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, and
hippocampus. These findings suggest threat dependent dynamics of brain activation
in the ACC; with increased attentional avoidance during moderate threat and a switch
to hypervigilant action readiness in the most anxious subjects during strong threat.