Working memory in 8 Kleine-Levin syndrome patients: an fMRI study.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to investigate possible neuropathology behind the Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS), a severe form of hypersomnia with onset during adolescence.


METHODS
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) applying a verbal working memory task was used in conjunction with a paper-and-pencil version of the task.


METHODS
Eight patients with KLS and 12 healthy volunteers participated in the study.


RESULTS
The results revealed a pattern of increased thalamic activity and reduced frontal activity (involving the anterior cingulate and adjacent prefrontal cortex) while performing a reading span task.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding may explain the clinical symptoms observed in KLS, in that the thalamus is known to be involved in the control of sleep. Given the increasing access to fMRI, this investigation may aid clinicians in the diagnosis of patients suffering from severe forms of hypersomnia.
Engström
Maria
M
Center for Medical Image Sciences and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. maria.engstrom@liu.se
Vigren
Patrick
P
Karlsson
Thomas
T
Landtblom
Anne-Marie
AM
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D017593:Kleine-Levin Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen