[Haptic perception and EEG changes in anorexia nervosa]

(Haptische Wahrnehmung und EEG-Veränderungen bei Anorexia nervosa.)

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We predicted that due to diminished somatosensory integrative ability, the anorectic patients would have problems reproducing haptic stimuli. In addition we sought to determine whether EEGs from anorectic patients (AN) and the healthy controls (CO) would show discrepancies between the two groups during haptic explorations in theta-power over the right parietal region. METHOD: EEG power (theta-power) data of AN (n = 13) and CO (n = 13) were analyzed during haptic exploration tasks and rest intervals. The haptic explorations consisted of palpating the structure of six sunken reliefs in sequence with both hands, eyes closed. After each exploration the structure was drawn on a piece of paper. RESULTS: The reproductions of haptic stimuli submitted by the anorectic patients were of notably poorer quality than those of the healthy controls. During rest intervals and haptic explorations, spectral power was generally lower in the AN group in comparison to the healthy controls. Significant theta-power differences between groups showed over the right parietal cortex during haptic explorations. The decrease in EEG power in the anorectic patients in the theta bands across the right parietal region during haptic exploration tasks could be interpreted as a minor activation of visuo-spatial regions. The results of the haptic explorations as well as the EEG-power changes indicate a cortical dysfunction and deficits in somatosensory integration processing in anorexia nervosa patients.

Author information

Author/s: Grunwald, M (M); Ettrich, C (C); Assmann, B (B); Dähne, A (A); Krause, W (W); Beyer, L (L); Rost, R (R); Gertz, H J (HJ);

Affiliation: EEG-Forschungslabor der Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie der Universität Leipzig. mgrun(-atsign-)medizin.uni-leipzig.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie (Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother), published in SWITZERLAND. (Language: ger)

Reference: 1999-Nov; vol 27 (issue 4) : pp 241-50

Dates: Created 2000/03/02; Completed 2000/03/02; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 10637974, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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