258
Views
2
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Emotional conflict processing in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study using functional magnetic resonance imaging

, , , , , & show all
Pages 355-368
Received 10 Jun 2016
Accepted 11 Aug 2016
Published online: 20 Sep 2016
 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Studies of neurocognition suggest that abnormalities in cognitive control contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in adolescents, yet these abnormalities remain poorly understood at the neurobiological level. Reports indicate that adolescents with CFS are significantly impaired in conflict processing, a primary element of cognitive control. Method: In this study, we examine whether emotional conflict processing is altered on behavioral and neural levels in adolescents with CFS and a healthy comparison group. Fifteen adolescent patients with CFS and 24 healthy adolescent participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing an emotional conflict task that involved categorizing facial affect while ignoring overlaid affect labeled words. Results: Adolescent CFS patients were less able to engage the left amygdala and left midposterior insula (mpINS) in response to conflict than the healthy comparison group. An association between accuracy interference and conflict-related reactivity in the amygdala was observed in CFS patients. A relationship between response time interference and conflict-related reactivity in the mpINS was also reported. Neural responses in the amygdala and mpINS were specific to fatigue severity. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that adolescent CFS patients displayed deficits in emotional conflict processing. Our results suggest abnormalities in affective and cognitive functioning of the salience network, which might underlie the pathophysiology of adolescent CFS.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants and their families for their contribution in this study. We thank Nils Inge Landrø for helpful comments on the manuscript. Also, we express gratitude to Kari Gjersum for secretary assistance; Tommy Sinnes, Ellen Wessel, Berit Widerøe Njølstad, and Pelle Rohdin for practical assistance; Berit Bjelkåsen for the development of the computerized randomization procedure; and all referring hospital units.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

L.W. carried out data analyses and drafted the manuscript. T.E. and V.B.W. conceptualized and contributed to the study design. D.S. and E.F. collected clinical data and contributed to the study design. A.M. and M.Ø. contributed to the study design. All authors contributed to data interpretation and drafting of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Research Council of Norway [grant number 228874]; South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority; and the University of Oslo.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
EUR 40.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
EUR 433.00 Add to cart

Purchase access via tokens

  • Choose from packages of 10, 20, and 30 tokens
  • Can use on articles across multiple libraries & subject collections
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded & printed
From EUR 400.00
per package
Learn more
* Local tax will be added as applicable
 

Related research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.