Fig. 1: GLM results and DCM model space.

A DCM model space node locations determined based on the peak values in the group-level NEG > NEU contrast GLM results for the left anterior insula (aINS; x = −29, y = 14, z = −14), right amygdala (AMG; x = 22, y = −3, z = −18), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC; x = −2, y = 16, z = 21), periaqueductal gray (PAG; x = 2, y = −32, z = −8), and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC; x = 37, y = 29, z = −13). B Full DCM model depicting connections modulated by the negative emotional salience (blue lines) and driving task input (red dashed line). Render visualized using brainconn [105]. C Significant group-level GLM results for negative emotional salience (NEG > NEU). The group-level activation t-maps were overlaid on the ‘Synthesized_FLASH25’ (500 um, MNI space) ex-vivo template [106]. The colour bar indicates t-values. Comparisons were thresholded at voxel-wise PFDR < 0.05, KE ≥ 10. L, left; R, right.