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Journal of Neurology
Published in: Journal of Neurology 3/2015

01-03-2015 | Original Communication

Right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy impairs empathy-related brain responses to dynamic fearful faces

Authors: Gianina Toller, Babu Adhimoolam, Thomas Grunwald, Hans-Jürgen Huppertz, Martin Kurthen, Katherine P. Rankin, Hennric Jokeit

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 3/2015

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Abstract

Unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) has been associated with reduced amygdala responsiveness to fearful faces. However, the effect of unilateral MTLE on empathy-related brain responses in extra-amygdalar regions has not been investigated. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured empathy-related brain responses to dynamic fearful faces in 34 patients with unilateral MTLE (18 right sided), in an epilepsy (extra-MTLE; n = 16) and in a healthy control group (n = 30). The primary finding was that right MTLE (RMTLE) was associated with decreased activity predominantly in the right amygdala and also in bilateral periaqueductal gray (PAG) but normal activity in the right anterior insula. The results of the extra-MTLE group demonstrate that these reduced amygdala and PAG responses go beyond the attenuation caused by antiepileptic and antidepressant medication. These findings clearly indicate that RMTLE affects the function of mesial temporal and midbrain structures that mediate basic interoceptive input necessary for the emotional awareness of empathic experiences of fear. Together with the decreased empathic concern found in the RMTLE group, this study provides neurobehavioral evidence that patients with RMTLE are at increased risk for reduced empathy towards others’ internal states and sheds new light on the nature of social-cognitive impairments frequently accompanying MTLE.
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Metadata
Title
Right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy impairs empathy-related brain responses to dynamic fearful faces
Authors
Gianina Toller
Babu Adhimoolam
Thomas Grunwald
Hans-Jürgen Huppertz
Martin Kurthen
Katherine P. Rankin
Hennric Jokeit
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Neurology / Issue 3/2015
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-014-7622-2

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