Gwang-Won Kim MS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gwang Woo Jeong PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyeong-Jung Kim MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Taehoon Kim MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Han-Su Baek MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thirunavukkarasu Sundaram MSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Heoung Keun Kang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Emotional responses are thought to play a vital role in survival and in our ability to adapt to surrounding environment. A number of investigators suggested that brain activity represented a neural correlate of cognitive and emotional reactions through neural network. This study utilized a 3.0 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to find the different human brain centers associated with personal preference of living environments

A total of 28 right handed volunteers (mean age 27.2±3.6 years, range = 25-38 years) with no history of neurological or psychiatric illness underwent fMRI (3.0T Magnetom Trio, Siemens Medical Solutions, Germany). For the activation conditions, volunteers viewed rural or urban pictures associated with residential environment. The fMRI data were obtained from 25 slices (5 mm slice thickness) parallel to the AC-PC (anterior commissure and posterior commissure) line on axial plane. After fMRI scanning, the participants answered a questionnaire for evaluation of their emotional status about viewing the pictures.

The participants were divided into two groups as 26 subjects favorable to rural pictures and 14 subjects unfavorable to urban pictures based on their filled-in questionnaire. The activation areas observed predominantly in the favorite pictures over the unfavorite were the insula, precuneus, inferior temporal gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, fusiform gyrus, globus pallidus, cuneus and caudate nucleus. On the other hand, the predominant activation areas in the unfavorite pictures over the favorite were the parahippocampal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, amygdala and posterior cingulate gyrus. These results demonstrate that brain activation when viewing the residential environment is affected by their emotional reactions according to personal preference.

These findings would be useful as an objective evaluation guide to human suitability for ecological environments that are related to brain activation with joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure.

This unique study may enhance our understandings about psychological restoration and restorative environments which are needed complement to work on stress and environmental stressors.

Kim, G, Jeong, G, Kim, H, Kim, T, Baek, H, Sundaram, T, Kang, H, et al, , Neuro-anatomical Correlation with Personal Preference for Living Environments: 3.0 T fMRI.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6020251.html