An emotional-response model of bipolar disorders integrating recent findings on amygdala circuits

•Emotional processing is a crucial altered dimension in BD.•A new model based on emotional disturbances and not on mood.•The amygdala, hub for assignment of positive and negative valences.•The amygdala as a pivotal structure for the physiopathology of BD. Because of our classification system limitat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2020-11, Vol.118, p.358-366
Main Authors: Bigot, Mathilde, Alonso, Mariana, Houenou, Josselin, Sarrazin, Samuel, Dargél, Aroldo A., Lledo, Pierre-Marie, Henry, Chantal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amygdala
Behavioral regulation
Bipolar disorders
Brain circuits
Dimensional approach
Emotional processing
Life Sciences
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Summary:•Emotional processing is a crucial altered dimension in BD.•A new model based on emotional disturbances and not on mood.•The amygdala, hub for assignment of positive and negative valences.•The amygdala as a pivotal structure for the physiopathology of BD. Because of our classification system limitations for defining psychiatric disorders and understanding their physiopathology, a new research area based on dimensions has emerged. It consists of exploring domains derived from fundamental behavioral components linked to neurobiological systems. Emotional processing is among the most affected dimensions in bipolar disorders (BD), but is excluded from the definition criteria. The purpose of this review is to synthesize the emotional responses disruption during the different phases of BD, using intensity and valence as the two key characteristics of emotions. We integrate those emotional disruptions into an original, emotion-based model contrasting with the current diagnostic frame built on mood. Emotional processing is underpinned by cortico-limbic circuits involving the amygdala. Recent publications showed the crucial role of the amygdala in emotional processes triggered by stimuli of negative, but also positive valence. We show how these neuroscience data can provide physiological basis for emotional disturbances observed in BD. We conclude with translational perspectives to improve the current knowledge about neural substrates underlying altered emotional responses characterizing BD.
ISSN:0149-7634
1873-7528
DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.037