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Abstract #4554

The alexithymic trait is reflected in emotional processing in subjects below the threshold of alexithymic disorder.

Johanna Närväinen1, Pekka Kuoppa2, Leila Karhunen3,4, Sanna Sinikallio5, Mervi Könönen6, and Mika P Tarvainen2,7

1VTT Technological Research Centre of Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 2Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 3Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 4Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, 5School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland, 6Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, 7Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

Alexithymia is a disorder linked to altered brain processing of emotions and to other disorders and substance abuse. In sub-disorder range, alexithymia can be considered a personality trait. In this paper, we first characterize the fMRI results of emotion induction in non-alexithymic subjects, and then explore the correlation between brain activation in amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex; and the degree of the alexithymic trait assessed by TAS-20 questionnaire. As conclusion, the alexithymic trait seems to be reflected in emotional processing already in subjects well below the threshold of alexithymia disorder.

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