Objective
Problems in controlling attention to negative and positive stimuli have been associated with anxiety disorders and addiction, respectively. Few studies have attempted to delineate the neural mechanisms underlying attentional control over emotional stimuli.
The first phase of the proposed research has two main objectives:
1) to investigate the involvement of lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) and anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) in the 'top-down' control of attention over emotional stimuli;
2) to investigate the role of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens in the processing of negative and positive stimuli and in the 'bottom up' modulation of attention by emotional stimuli.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies varying the valence and intensity of distracting stimuli and the attentional demands of the primary task will examine the factors influencing recruitment of these neural structures. Two combined fMRI/functional genomic studies will examine whether genetic polymorphisms associated with alterations in central monoamine activity influence recruitment of the neural circuitry underlying attentional control over emotional stimuli. Participants will be split into groups according to their COMT Val158 Met and 5-HTTLPR genotypes.
Here, the objectives a re to establish whether:
1) the COMT Val158 Met polymorphism influences recruitment of LPFC and ACC mechanisms supporting the `top-down¿ regulation of attention and
2) the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism influences amygdala activation associated with the 'bottom-up' modulation of attention by emotional stimuli.
Integrating genetic and cognitive neuroscience methodologies to examine neuro-cognitive mechanisms of relevance to anxiety and addiction is in line with the FP6 Call: 'Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health'. Research in this specific area is at an early stage - this project will both promote European excellence in this field and aid my career, helping me obtain the training needed for independence.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology cognitive neuroscience
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry anxiety disorders
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships
Coordinator
LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.