Nsistent with this hypothesis, growing evidence suggests that there is a

Nsistent with this hypothesis, growing evidence suggests that there is a posterior-to-L-660711 sodium salt manufacturer anterior anatomical progression in which the posterior insula registers the primary physiological somatic sensations (Craig et al., 2000; Brooks et al., 2002; Olausson et al., 2002, 2005), get LOR-253 whereas the anterior insula provides the basis for subjective feelings and emotional awareness (Craig, 2002; 2009 for a review). Craig (2009) further suggested that there is a posteriorto-anterior progression of interoceptive information processing within the insula cortex, such that the initial bodily sensation registered in the posterior insula spreads over the anterior insula, which then provides a basis for one’s emotional experience (Craig, 2002; Barrett et al., 2004). For example, objective degrees of temperature intensity were linearly represented within the posterior insula, whereas participants’ subjective ratings of these stimuli correlated with activation in the anterior insula (Craig et al., 2000; Kong et al., 2006). Additional studies also suggest the posteriorto-anterior gradient towards greater complexity of experience within the insula. For example, activation foci during subjective bodily experience (i.e. smelling a disgusting odor) were located anterior to those during a comparable empathetic feeling (i.e. seeing disgust expressed on another’s face) (Hennenlotter et al., 2005; Jabbi et al., 2007). Similarly, empathetic pain felt for a loved one receiving painful simulation was associated with activation of the bilateral anterior insula but not with the posterior insula (Singer et al., 2004). The dual role of the insula in both physiological perception and emotional experience suggests that the insula may play a critical role in mediating the effects of physical temperature priming on subsequent social judgments, decisions and behavior. In this study, we hypothesized that physical coldness (warmth) would lead to lesser (greater) expressions of interpersonal trust, and that the effect of temperature priming on trust behaviors may be reflected in insular cortex activity. Specifically, we expected to find the thermal and trust processes corresponding activations in the posterior and anterior insular cortices, respectively; moreover, this pattern of activation should differ with the temperature (cold vs warm) that immediately precedes the trust decisions. As a behavioral index of trust, we used people’s responses during an economic trust game in which people make investments that involve entrusting a small amount of money to another player to invest on their behalf (the `trust’ game; Berg et al., 1995; Delgado et al., 2005). In Study 1, we examine the effect of touching physically cold or warm objects on people’s decisions in the trust game, assessing the effect of temperature priming on social behavior. In Study 2, we used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to observe insula activation both when people are exposed to cold (vs warm) objects, and also while subsequently making decisions involving trust.Physical temperature effects on trust behavior participants were in fact assigned to play the investor. Additionally, all of the trustee responses were computer generated; there were no human partners. Participants played 15 trials of the trust game, with each trial consisting of a decision and an outcome phase. During the decision phase, participants decided how much money to invest with the trustee (possible responses ranged from 0 to 1.00 wit.Nsistent with this hypothesis, growing evidence suggests that there is a posterior-to-anterior anatomical progression in which the posterior insula registers the primary physiological somatic sensations (Craig et al., 2000; Brooks et al., 2002; Olausson et al., 2002, 2005), whereas the anterior insula provides the basis for subjective feelings and emotional awareness (Craig, 2002; 2009 for a review). Craig (2009) further suggested that there is a posteriorto-anterior progression of interoceptive information processing within the insula cortex, such that the initial bodily sensation registered in the posterior insula spreads over the anterior insula, which then provides a basis for one’s emotional experience (Craig, 2002; Barrett et al., 2004). For example, objective degrees of temperature intensity were linearly represented within the posterior insula, whereas participants’ subjective ratings of these stimuli correlated with activation in the anterior insula (Craig et al., 2000; Kong et al., 2006). Additional studies also suggest the posteriorto-anterior gradient towards greater complexity of experience within the insula. For example, activation foci during subjective bodily experience (i.e. smelling a disgusting odor) were located anterior to those during a comparable empathetic feeling (i.e. seeing disgust expressed on another’s face) (Hennenlotter et al., 2005; Jabbi et al., 2007). Similarly, empathetic pain felt for a loved one receiving painful simulation was associated with activation of the bilateral anterior insula but not with the posterior insula (Singer et al., 2004). The dual role of the insula in both physiological perception and emotional experience suggests that the insula may play a critical role in mediating the effects of physical temperature priming on subsequent social judgments, decisions and behavior. In this study, we hypothesized that physical coldness (warmth) would lead to lesser (greater) expressions of interpersonal trust, and that the effect of temperature priming on trust behaviors may be reflected in insular cortex activity. Specifically, we expected to find the thermal and trust processes corresponding activations in the posterior and anterior insular cortices, respectively; moreover, this pattern of activation should differ with the temperature (cold vs warm) that immediately precedes the trust decisions. As a behavioral index of trust, we used people’s responses during an economic trust game in which people make investments that involve entrusting a small amount of money to another player to invest on their behalf (the `trust’ game; Berg et al., 1995; Delgado et al., 2005). In Study 1, we examine the effect of touching physically cold or warm objects on people’s decisions in the trust game, assessing the effect of temperature priming on social behavior. In Study 2, we used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to observe insula activation both when people are exposed to cold (vs warm) objects, and also while subsequently making decisions involving trust.Physical temperature effects on trust behavior participants were in fact assigned to play the investor. Additionally, all of the trustee responses were computer generated; there were no human partners. Participants played 15 trials of the trust game, with each trial consisting of a decision and an outcome phase. During the decision phase, participants decided how much money to invest with the trustee (possible responses ranged from 0 to 1.00 wit.