Addressing Evidence Linking Secondary Alexithymia to Aberrant Humor Processing.

Addressing Evidence Linking Secondary Alexithymia to Aberrant Humor Processing. Behav Neurol. 2019;2019:1803624 Authors: Patrikelis P, Lucci G, Alexoudi A, Korfias S, Messinis L, Nasios G, Papasilekas T, Sakas D, Gatzonis S Abstract In this review, we explore current literature and assess evidence linking secondary (acquired) alexithymia to aberrant humor processing, in terms of their neurobiological underpinnings. In addition, we suggest a possible common neuropathological substrate between secondary alexithymia and deficits in humor appreciation, by drawing on neurophysiologic and neuroradiological evidence, as well as on a recent and unique single-case study showing the cooccurrence of secondary alexithymia and deficit in humor appreciation. In summary, what emerges from the literature is that the cortical midline structures, in particular the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the insular cortex, seem to play a crucial role in the expression of both alexithymia and defective humor processing, while though to a lesser extent, a right hemisphere and bilateral frontoparietal contribution becomes evident. Neurobiological evidence of secondary alexithymia and aberrant humor processing points to the putative role of ACC/mPFC and the insular cortex in representing crucial processing nodes whose damage may produce both the above clinical conditions. We believe that the association of secondary alexi...
Source: Behavioural Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Neurol Source Type: research