Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2011
Abstract
Based on the clinical observation that patients suffering from narcolepsy with cataplexy (NC) have cataplectic attacks when they experience positive emotions, it is therefore hypothesised that the abnormal processing of external emotional input through the limbic system, or motor dysregulation induced by emotions, takes place during these episodes. To date, imaging studies have failed to reveal consistent brain abnormalities in NC patients.In the present MRI volumetric study, we found bilateral gray matter loss in the amygdala, but any differences in the volumes of nucleus accumbens.
The difference in amygdalar volume between healthy volunteers matched for age and gender and NC patients was about 17%.