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Are Auditory Hallucinations Related to the Brain's Resting State Activity? A 'Neurophenomenal Resting State Hypothesis'

Georg Northoff

Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience December 26, 2014 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2014.12.3.189 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Default mode network
Keywords Resting State FMRI Auditory cortex Stimulus psychology Confusion Auditory imagery Audiology Cognitive psychology Cognition
Citations 65
Key points Proposes that auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia may be traced back to abnormally elevated resting state activity in the auditory cortex, abnormal modulation by the default-mode network, and neural confusion between resting state changes and stimulus-induced activity.

Abstract

While several hypotheses about the neural mechanisms underlying auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) have been suggested, the exact role of the recently highlighted intrinsic resting state activity of the brain remains unclear. Based on recent findings, we therefore developed what we call the 'resting state hypotheses' of AVH. Our hypothesis suggest that AVH may be traced back to abnormally elevated resting state activity in auditory cortex itself, abnormal modulation of the auditory cortex by anterior cortical midline regions as part of the default-mode network, and neural confusion between auditory cortical resting state changes and stimulus-induced activity. We discuss evidence in favour of our 'resting state hypothesis' and show its correspondence with phenomenal, i.e., subjective-experiential features as explored in phenomenological accounts. Therefore I speak of a 'neurophenomenal resting state hypothesis' of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.

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