Arch Gen Psychiatry—Abstract: Dose-Dependent Decrease of Activation in Bilateral Amygdala and Insula by Lorazepam During Emotion Processing, March 2005, Paulus et al. 62 (3): 282

Dose-Dependent Decrease of Activation in Bilateral Amygdala and Insula by Lorazepam During Emotion Processing
Martin P. Paulus, MD;
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:282-288.
Background Functional neuroimaging may elucidate the pathophysiologic features of anxiety disorders and the site of action of anxiolytic drugs. A large body of evidence suggests that the amygdala and associated limbic structures play a critical role in the expression of anxiety and may be treatment targets for anxiolytic drugs.
Objective To determine whether lorazepam dose-dependently attenuates blood oxygenation level–dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) activation in the amygdala and associated limbic structures during an emotion face assessment task.
Participants and Design Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized dose-response study. Subjects underwent imaging 3 times (at least a week apart) and were given either a single-dose placebo or 0.25 mg or 1.0 mg of lorazepam 1 hour prior to an MRI session.