Disfunzione dell’emisfero destro nel disturbo da attacchi di panico: uno studio di neuroimmagine ad alta risoluzione temporale

Objectives. Brain electrical microstates represent spatial configurations of scalp recorded brain electrical activity and are considered to be the basic elements of the stepwise processing of information in the brain. In the present study, the hypothesis of a temporo-limbic dysfunction in panic disorder (PD) was tested by investigating the brain microstate corresponding to the Late Positive Complex (LPC), an event-related potential (ERP) component with generators in these regions. Methods. ERPs were recorded in PD and matched healthy subjects by using a visual target detection paradigm in which consonant pairs were presented in a central and in a lateral condition. The spatial coordinates of the LPC microstate topographic descriptors (positive and negative centroids) were compared between the two groups and were correlated to the performance on neuropsychological tests sensitive to right and left temporo-and fronto-hippocampal functioning. Results. In the central condition, a leftward shift of the LPC microstate positive centroid was observed in PD versus healthy subjects. This topographical abnormality was associated to worse performance on the test exploring the right temporo-hippocampal functioning. As to the lateral condition, the topographic descriptors of the LPC microstate revealed a leftward shift in PD versus healthy subjects, which was correlated to the number of panic attacks. Conclusions. Our findings indicate a hypoactivation of the right hemisphere circuits involved in the generation of the LPC in panic disorder.