FMRI Analysis of the Effect of Background Image Combined with Face Image

In previous studies, activations in neural responses in the medial temporal lobe have been found with the stimuli of fear face. Especially the amygdala is thought to be part of a neural system responsive to potential threat. But previous these studies have used no background images for facial stimuli. In the present study, we estimated the effect of background image to the brain activation by using fMRI. During fMRI scanning, face image with background image were presented repeatedly. The background images consisted of two photographs, lightning and flower garden. After the fMRI scanning session, significant effects (P<0.001) with the contrast (fearful face with lightning) minus (fearful face with flower garden) were assessed using a t-test with SPM2 software. As a result, the activation of amygdala and hippo-campus were found. This fact shows the importance of background image on giving impression to person with face images.