Increased activation in cingulate cortex in conversion disorder: what does it mean?
Conversion disorder is one of the terms used to describe various psychosomatic neurological symptoms that are thought to originate from a psychological conflict. Psychological stressors can usually be identified but appear to be almost similar to the severity of psychological stress in non-psychosomatic neurological disorders. Recent neuroimaging research provides one rather robust finding of increased activation in the anterior cingulate gyrus. This activation has been explained as a reflection of 'active inhibition' or 'self-monitoring' but its meaning in conversion disorder still remains mysterious. In this paper, current theories are re-examined from a neuroanatomical point of view.
van Beilen
M
M
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. m.van.beilen@neuro.umcg.nl
Vogt
B A
BA
Leenders
K L
KL
D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology