Jason F. Smith

Extended amygdala function is governed by threat probability, not uncertainty

The paper challenges the canonical model of anxiety by showing that threat probability, not uncertainty, is more strongly associated with threat anticipation and EA regions.

Fear, anxiety, and the extended amygdala- Absence of evidence for strict functional segregation

The paper analyzes fMRI data to investigate the role of the extended amygdala in threat processing, finding no strict functional segregation between the central nucleus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Heightened subcortical reactivity to uncertain-threat is associated with future internalizing symptoms, conditional on stress exposure

The paper identifies heightened subcortical reactivity to uncertain-threat as a predictor of future internalizing symptoms in individuals with low stress exposure.

A shared threat-anticipation circuit is dynamically engaged at different moments by certain and uncertain threat

This paper demonstrates that certain and uncertain threat anticipation recruit a shared neural circuit with distinct activation dynamics in humans.

Adolescent social anxiety is associated with diminished discrimination of anticipated threat and safety in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

This study investigates how social anxiety in adolescents affects neural responses to anticipated social threat, finding reduced discrimination in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Neuroticism/negative emotionality is associated with increased reactivity to uncertain threat in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, not the amygdala

The paper investigates the neural basis of neuroticism/negative emotionality by showing its association with heightened BST activation during uncertain threat anticipation, not the amygdala.

Anxiety-related frontocortical activity is associated with dampened stressor reactivity in the real world

The paper links greater activation in a cingulo-opercular circuit during an anxiety-eliciting task with reduced daily stressor-related distress in individuals.

Anxiety and the neurobiology of temporally uncertain threat anticipation

This study investigates the neural circuits involved in anticipating temporally uncertain and certain threat, revealing co-localized but functionally distinct brain regions associated with anxiety.

Acute alcohol administration dampens threat-related activation in the central extended amygdala

This study shows that acute alcohol reduces threat-related brain activity in the central extended amygdala in humans, specifically in the BST and Ce regions.

The Impact of Spatial Normalization for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Analyses Revisited

This paper evaluates spatial normalization techniques in fMRI, finding that a multi-tool T1EPI pipeline outperforms standard EPIO and T1EPI methods in precision, accuracy, and statistical power.

Intrinsic functional connectivity of the central extended amygdala

The paper maps the intrinsic functional connectivity of the central extended amygdala in healthy adults, revealing distinct patterns between the BST and Ce and their connections to prefrontal and subcortical regions.