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Methods

As part of a larger study assessing health and well-being across the lifespan, 51 participants (34 female, mean age= 54 years) were studied. 30 pleasant (positive), 30 neutral, and 30 unpleasant (negative) pictures were each presented visually for 4 s in random order. Participants’ task was to identify the color of a briefly displayed border around the pictures. Facial EMG of the corrugator muscle was recorded for 9 sec after picture offset assessing emotional recovery from the pictures.

Results

Larger amygdala volumes significantly predicted greater corrugator activity following negative pictures offset, r=. 33 (Right) and r=. 28 (Left), p<. 05, thus indicating reduced recovery from negative pictures and prolonged greater contraction of the corrugator muscle. Larger hippocampal volumes significantly predicted less corrugator activity following positive pictures offset, r=−. 44 (Right) and r=−. 48 (Left), p<. 05 …