title: Default Mode Network alterations in alexithymia: an EEG power spectra and connectivity study.
abstract: Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that alexithymia is characterized by functional alterations in different brain areas [e.g., posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)], during emotional/social tasks. However, only few data are available about alexithymic cortical networking features during resting state (RS). We have investigated the modifications of electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra and EEG functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) in subjects with alexithymia. Eighteen subjects with alexithymia and eighteen subjects without alexithymia matched for age and gender were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5 min of RS. EEG analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low Resolution Electric Tomography software (eLORETA). Compared to controls, alexithymic subjects showed a decrease of alpha power in the right PCC. In the connectivity analysis, compared to controls, alexithymic subjects showed a decrease of alpha connectivity between: (i) right anterior cingulate cortex and right PCC, (ii) right frontal lobe and right PCC, and (iii) right parietal lobe and right temporal lobe. Finally, mediation models showed that the association between alexithymia and EEG connectivity values was directed and was not mediated by psychopathology severity. Taken together, our results could reflect the neurophysiological substrate of some core features of alexithymia, such as the impairment in emotional awareness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imperatori
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Unit; Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Marca
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Alessio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maestoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult