Controllability over stressor decreases responses in key threat-related brain areas

Abstract Controllability over stressors has major impacts on brain and behavior. In humans, however, the effect of controllability responses to is poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated how altered a shock-plus-sound stressor with between-group yoked design, where participants in controllable uncontrollable groups experienced matched exposure. Employing Bayesian multilevel analysis at level regions interest voxels insula, standard voxelwise analysis, found that decreased stressor-related across threat-related regions, notably bed nucleus stria terminalis anterior insula. Posterior cingulate cortex, posterior possibly medial frontal gyrus showed increased during control stressor. Our findings support idea aversiveness reduced when controllable, leading key involved anxiety-related processing, even extended amygdala.