Emotional stimuli modulate readiness for action: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.
Open accessAbstract
Emotional stimuli may prime the motor system and facilitate action readiness. Direct evidence for this effect has been shown by recent studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). When administered over the primary motor cortex involved in responding, TMS pulses elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in the represented muscles. The amplitudes of these MEPs reflect the state of corticospinal excitability. Here, we investigated the dynamic effects of induced emotions on action readiness, as reflected by corticospinal excitability. Subjects performed a choice task while viewing task-irrelevant emotional and neutral pictures. The pattern of MEP amplitudes showed a typical increase as the TMS pulse was presented closer in time to the imminent response. This dynamic pattern was amplified by both pleasant and unpleasant emotional stimuli, but more so when unpleasant pictures were viewed. These patterns present novel evidence in support of the notion that emotional stimuli modulate action readiness.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
States of action readiness presumably consist of subthreshold potentiations of relevant coping skills, such as attentional orientations to target objects, setting of efference copies or collateral discharges, perceptual expectancies, changes in motor cortex excitability, and bodily preparations.
“States of action readiness presumably consist of subthreshold potentiations of relevant coping skills, such as attentional orientations to target objects, setting of efference copies or of collateral discharges, perceptual expectancies, changes in motor cortex excitability (van Loon et al., 2010), and bodily preparations.”
From Impulsive action: emotional impulses and their control (2014) · cites this paper as van Loon et al., 2010
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The expression of the emotions in man and animals.
Darwin, C. D. (1872) · J. Murray eBooks · doi:10.1037/10001-000 · Cited by 12,120 · see citing works
Frijda, N. H. (1988) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.43.5.349 · Cited by 2,611 · see citing works
Motor facilitation during action observation: a magnetic stimulation study
Fadiga, L., Fogassi, L., Pavesi, G., & Rizzolatti, G. (1995) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1995.73.6.2608 · Cited by 2,297 · see citing works
Lang, P. J., Bradley, M. M., & Cuthbert, B. N. (1999) · Cited by 1,664 · see citing works
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
Darwin, C. R., & Lorenz, K. Z. (1965) · University of Chicago Press eBooks · doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226220802.001.0001 · Cited by 1,271 · see citing works
Rauch, S. L. (1996) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830050014003 · Cited by 1,056 · see citing works
Responses in small hand muscles from magnetic stimulation of the human brain.
Hess, C. W., Mills, K. R., & Murray, N. M. F. (1987) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1987.sp016621 · Cited by 759 · see citing works
Bremner, J. D., Staib, L. H., Kaloupek, D. G., Southwick, S. M., Soufer, R., & Charney, D. S. (1999) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00297-2 · Cited by 704 · see citing works
Bridging emotion theory and neurobiology through dynamic systems modeling
Lewis, M. D. (2005) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x0500004x · Cited by 618 · see citing works
Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain.
Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G., & Aglioti, S. M. (2005) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1481 · Cited by 615 · see citing works
Corticospinal excitability is specifically modulated by motor imagery: a magnetic stimulation study
Fadiga, L., Buccino, G., Craighero, L., Fogassi, L., Gallese, V., & Pavesi, G. (1998) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/s0028-3932(98)00089-x · Cited by 474 · see citing works
Modulation of Associative Human Motor Cortical Plasticity by Attention
Stefan, K., Wycislo, M., & Claßen, J. (2004) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00383.2003 · Cited by 464 · see citing works
Time course of corticospinal excitability in reaction time and self‐paced movements
Chen, R. E., Yaseen, Z., Cohen, L. G., & Hallett, M. (1998) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.410440306 · Cited by 423 · see citing works
Leocani, L., Cohen, L. G., Wassermann, E. M., Ikoma, K., & Hallett, M. (2000) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/123.6.1161 · Cited by 391 · see citing works
The Automatic Evaluation of Novel Stimuli
Duckworth, K. L., Bargh, J. A., Garcia, M. T., & Chaiken, S. (2002) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00490 · Cited by 387 · see citing works
Terao, Y., & Ugawa, Y. (2002) · Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1097/00004691-200208000-00006 · Cited by 364 · see citing works
Hess, C. W., Mills, K. R., & Murray, N. M. F. (1986) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/0304-3940(86)90565-3 · Cited by 310 · see citing works
Mapping Implied Body Actions in the Human Motor System
Urgesi, C., Moro, V., Candidi, M., & Aglioti, S. M. (2006) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1289-06.2006 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Lazzaro, V. D., Oliviero, A., Saturno, E., Dileone, M., Pilato, F., Nardone, R., Ranieri, F., Musumeci, G., Fiorilla, T., & Tonali, P. (2005) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2004.061747 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Hajcak, G., Molnar, C., George, M. S., Bolger, K. W., Koola, J., & Nahas, Z. H. (2006) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2006.00487.x · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Self-citationOliveri, M., Babiloni, C., Filippi, M. M., Caltagirone, C., Babiloni, F., Cicinelli, P., Traversa, R., Palmieri, M. G., & Rossini, P. M. (2003) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-002-1346-8 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Load-dependent modulation of affective picture processing
Erthal, F. S., Oliveira, L., Mocaiber, I., Pereira, M. G., Machado‐Pinheiro, W., Volchan, E., & Pessoa, L. (2005) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/cabn.5.4.388 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Rossini, P. M., Zarola, F., Stålberg, E., & Caramia, M. D. (1988) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(88)90491-x · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Avenanti, A., Minio-Paluello, I., Bufalari, I., & Aglioti, S. M. (2008) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.08.001 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Mechanisms and Dynamics of Cortical Motor Inhibition in the Stop-signal Paradigm: A TMS Study
van den Wildenberg, W. P. M., Burle, B., Vidal, F., van der Molen, M. W., Ridderinkhof, K. R., & Hasbroucq, T. (2009) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn.2009.21248 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Self-citationMontagna, M., Cerri, G., BORRONI, P. F., & Baldissera, F. G. (2005) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04336.x · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Schutter, D., Hofman, D., & van Honk, J. (2008) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2007.00635.x · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Baumgartner, T., Willi, M., & Jäncke, L. (2007) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e328012272e · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Psychopathy and the mirror neuron system: Preliminary findings from a non-psychiatric sample
Fecteau, S., Pascual‐Leone, Á., & Théoret, H. (2008) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2007.08.022 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Burle, B., Bonnet, M., Vidal, F., Possamaï, C., & Hasbroucq, T. (2002) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/1469-8986.3920207 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Modulation of spinal reflexes by aversive and sexually appetitive stimuli
Both, S., Everaerd, W. T. A. M., & Laan, E. T. M. (2003) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/1469-8986.00019 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Hoshiyama, M., Kakigi, R., Koyama, S., Takeshima, Y., Watanabe, S., & Shimojo, M. (1997) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology/Electromyography and Motor Control · doi:10.1016/s0924-980x(97)00019-2 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Modulation of spinal reflexes: Arousal, pleasure, action
BONNET, M., Bradley, M. M., Lang, P. J., & Requin, J. (1995) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1995.tb01219.x · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Corticospinal excitability modulation during mental simulation of wrist movements in human subjects
Rossi, S., Pasqualetti, P., Tecchio, F., Pauri, F., & Rossini, P. M. (1998) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(98)00088-3 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Emotional states alter force control during a feedback occluded motor task.
Coombes, S. A., Gamble, K. M., Cauraugh, J. H., & Janelle, C. M. (2008) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/1528-3542.8.1.104 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Worry facilitates corticospinal motor response to transcranial magnetic stimulation
Oathes, D. J., Bruce, J. M., & Nitschke, J. B. (2007) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20445 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Motor cortex excitability changes preceding voluntary muscle activity in simple reaction time task
Nikolova, M. M., Pondev, N., Christova, L., et al. (2006) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-006-0265-y · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neuropsychiatry
Rabins, P. V. (2001) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.10.1753-a · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Frijda, N. H. (1986). The emotions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Jola, C., Abedian-Amiri, A., Kuppuswamy, A., Pollick, F. E., & Grosbras, M.-H. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033343 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Impulsive action: emotional impulses and their control
Frijda, N. H., Ridderinkhof, K. R., & Rietveld, E. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00518 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
“…presumably consist of subthreshold potentiations of relevant coping skills, such as attentional orientations to target objects, setting of efference copies or of collateral discharges, perceptual expectancies, changes in motor cortex excitability (van Loon et al., 2010), and bodily preparations.”
BackgroundSelf-citationEmotion in action: A predictive processing perspective and theoretical synthesis
Ridderinkhof, K. R. (2017) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073916661765 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Self-citationEffects of Emotional Contexts on Cerebello-Thalamo-Cortical Activity during Action Observation
Mazzola, V., Vuilleumier, P., Latorre, V., Petito, A., Gallese, V., Popolizio, T., Arciero, G., & Bondolfi, G. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075912 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
- Authors
- van Loon, A. M., van den Wildenberg, W. P. M., van Stegeren, A. H., Ridderinkhof, K. R., & Hajcak, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Stony Brook University (US)
- Venue
- Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Published
- 2010-06
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 174-181
- ISSN
- 1530-7026 (ISSN-L)
- 1531-135X
- OpenAlex
- W2147645886
- Cited by
- 103
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Universiteit van Amsterdam
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Keywords
- emotional stimuli, action readiness, corticospinal excitability, motor evoked potentials, primary motor cortex, emotional valence, negative emotions, choice task
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electromyography, Emotions, Female, Hand, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Motor Cortex, Neuropsychological Tests, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Pyramidal Tracts, Reaction Time, Time Factors, Visual Perception, Muscle, Skeletal, Evoked Potentials, Motor, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
