Abstract #5026

Motor inhibition in functional paralysis – a task-based fMRI study

Vanessa Vallesi^1,2, Elia Hurni^1,2, Jothini Sritharan^1,2, Anke Scheel Sailer^3,4,5, Inge Eriks Hoogland^4,5,6, Michaela Gegusch⁷, Johannes Slotboom⁸, Rajeev Verma^1,2, and Giuseppe Zito^1,2

¹Advanced Imaging Research (AIR) Group, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland, ²Department of Radiology, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland, ³Department of Paraplegia, Rehabilitation and Quality Management, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland, ⁴Faculty Health Science and Medicine, University Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland, ⁵Health Services Research, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland, ⁶Outpatient Care Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland, ⁷Clinic for Neurology, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland, ⁸Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital and Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

Synopsis

Keywords: Psychiatric Disorders, Neuroscience, Functional Neurological Disorder

Motivation: In functional neurological disorders (FND), symptoms (including paralysis) occur despite intact anatomical pathways. The pathophysiology of FND is poorly understood, making diagnosis, treatment and prognosis uncertain.

Goal(s): Assuming that higher cognitive functions may play a role in the manifestation of symptoms, this study investigates motor inhibition in FND.

Approach: Using task-based fMRI, this observational study investigates the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response of the brain during a motor inhibition task.

Results: Preliminary results indicate reduced behavioral performance and lower BOLD activity in the left caudate nucleus, a key node for motor inhibition, suggesting a disrupted neural pathway in FND.

Impact: Our task-based fMRI results suggest impaired motor inhibition in functional neurological disorders and open new avenues for further investigation on its role in symptom production and potential treatment options.

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