Memories of attachment hamper EEG cortical connectivity in dissociative patients

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated cortical connectivity modifications by electroencephalography (EEG) lagged coherence analysis, in subjects with dissociative disorders and in controls, after retrieval of attachment memories. We asked thirteen patients with dissociative disorders and thirteen age- and sex-matched healthy controls to retrieve personal attachment-related autobiographical memories through adult attachment interviews (AAI). EEG was recorded in the closed eyes resting state before and after the AAI. EEG lagged coherence before and after AAI was compared in all subjects. In the control group, memories of attachment promoted a widespread increase in EEG connectivity, in particular in the high-frequency EEG bands. Compared to controls, dissociative patients did not show an increase in EEG connectivity after the AAI. Conclusions: These results shed light on the neurophysiology of the disintegrative effect of retrieval of traumatic attachment memories in dissociative patients.

The Association among Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity, Mentalization, and Psychopathology in a Nonclinical Sample: An eLORETA Study

“…This is consistent with both theoretical assumptions and experimental data [2,5,27,29] suggesting that mentalization is strongly and negatively associated with psychopathology. Furthermore, our data are in line with previous studies showing that higher-order integrative mental functions, such as mentalization, may emerge from the dynamic activity of large neural networks [10][11][12][13], and that a disruption of a wide range of brain dynamic networks may be considered a risk factor for psychopathology [14][15][16][17]. Finally, our findings are in agreement with studies reporting changes in functional connectivity related to both symptoms improvement after psychotherapy treatments (regardless of a specific diagnosis) [49,50] and an increase in mentalization after neuromodulation therapy [42].…”

“…Our findings also suggest that whilst higher-order integrative mental functions (i.e., mentalization) may emerge from the dynamic activity of large neural networks [10][11][12][13], a disruption of a wide range of brain dynamic networks may be considered a risk factor for psychopathology [14][15][16][17].…”

“…Consistently, a disruption of a wide range of brain dynamic networks is considered an important biomarker in several mental disorders [14][15][16][17].…”

“…Although functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly used to investigate the functional connectivity of DMN, recent studies have shown that electroencephalography (EEG) is also suitable for investigating the functional properties of this network [23,25]. Indeed, EEG functional connectivity is an economical and ecological way to explore the role of widely distributed cortical networks in underpinning higher-order integrative mental functions such as mentalization [14].…”

Historical aspects of Mozart’s mental health and diagnostic insights of ADHD and personality disorders

“…The total PD trait score again was significantly related to both measures of emotional empathy. Farina et al [9] compared EEG cortical connectivity after retrieval of attachment memories via adult attachment interviews in healthy subjects and patients with dissociative disorders. While in healthy controls memories of attachment promoted a widespread increase in connectivity, no such effect could be found in the patient group.…”