Increased activation in cingulate cortex in conversion disorder: what does it mean?

J Neurol Sci. 2010 Feb 15;289(1-2):155-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2009.08.030. Epub 2009 Sep 4.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Conversion Disorder / epidemiology
  • Conversion Disorder / pathology*
  • Conversion Disorder / psychology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Gyrus Cinguli / pathology
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Stress, Psychological / pathology
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology