Hi experts,
In my fMRI experiment, two conditions were compared: a high disgust condition and a low disgust condition. The high disgust condition involved presenting participants with disgusting images, while the low disgust condition presented the same images but with the disgusting elements digitally removed. During fMRI scanning, participants passively viewed stimuli from both conditions. After scanning, participants rated the level of disgust for each set of stimuli on a scale of 0 to 10.
Three results were observed:
On one hand, from the perspective of activation, this brain region appears to respond more strongly to the low disgust condition. On the other hand, from a correlation standpoint, it exhibits the opposite effect.
How can these results be interpreted?
Thank you!
IYH Dear Olivia Yang
Kindly find possible interpretations for the observed results, along with a succinct rationale for each. Please note these interpretations are not mutually exclusive and could potentially interact w each other.
1. **Different Aspects of Disgust Processing**: The brain region in question might be involved in a specific aspect of disgust processing that is more pronounced in the low disgust condition, such as processing visual features or cognitive appraisals.
+ Rationale: The positive correlation between activation differences and rating differences suggests that this region's response is still related to the overall disgust experience.
2. **Compensatory Activation**: The higher activation in the low disgust condition might be a compensatory response to reduced activation in other brain regions involved in processing disgust.
+ Rationale: The brain might be reallocating resources to maintain the overall disgust processing network's functionality.
3. **Methodological Factors**: Differences in attentional demands, visual complexity, or task difficulty between the two conditions might affect activation in the brain region of interest.
+ Rationale: Participants might need to pay more attention to the high disgust condition to process the disgusting elements, which could affect activation.
4. **Individual Differences**: Differences in the way participants process disgust might lead to differences in activation patterns and subjective ratings.
+ Rationale: Some participants might rely more on visual cues, while others might rely more on cognitive appraisals.
5. **Hemispheric Differences**: Hemispheric differences in the processing of disgusting stimuli might explain the higher activation in the low disgust condition.
+ Rationale: The left hemisphere might be more involved in processing low-level visual features, while the right hemisphere might be more involved in processing emotional responses.
Now, specifically to reconcile the discrepancy btw the activation and correlation results:
The brain region in question might be involved in processing low-level visual features that change when the disgusting elements are digitally removed. This could explain the higher activation in the low disgust condition. Yet, the positive correlation between the difference in activation and the difference in ratings suggests that this region's response still relates to the subjective experience of disgust.
One possible explanation (as noted in 1. ) is that this brain region is part of a broader network involved in processing disgust. While it may respond more strongly to the low disgust condition in terms of activation, its response might still be related to the overall disgust experience. IMHO the positive correlation between activation differences and rating differences supports this interpretation.
Dear Daniyel Yaacov Bilar
Thank you very much for your thorough response, it's very informative, and I truly appreciate it!
I'm currently studying your answer now.
I'll reach out if I have any further questions.
Hi,
In this case, the reverse pattern might hint at some indirect function of this brain region in controlling or inhibiting disgust. Specifically, the higher activation in a low disgust condition could correlate with attempts to handle the situation of seeing the cover picture change unexpectedly. A positive correlation expresses the trend because the more frequently this area is activated in relation to the opposite condition, the less subjective disgust the subjects report.
Hope this helps.
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