Barbara Basile1, Ugo Nocentini2, Giovanna Comanducci2, Rosalba Mannu2, Carlo Caltagirone3,4, Marco Bozzali3
1Neuroimaging Laboratory , Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; 2Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; 3Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; 4Department of Neuroscience, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit significantly higher rates of anger, depression and pathological laughing and crying. The aim of this study was to investigate, through a functional MRI, emotional processing in MS patients. Results demonstrate how MS patients show significantly abnormal brain activation, compared to controls in both negative emotional states and joy. Higher brain activation was observed in anger and sadness conditions in MS patients, compared to controls, while the opposite effect was observed in joy condition. These abnormalities might reflect the underlying brain tissue damage.
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