Electrophysiological evidence of early processing deficits in alexithymia

Alexithymia describes difficulties to identify and describe one's emotions. Previous research focused on difficulties associated with the later processing stages of appraisal in alexithymia. We tested whether early processing deficits are apparent in alexithymic persons and whether these abnormalities contribute to later processing difficulties. 20 participants were selected and identified as either having high (HDA) or low (LDA) degrees of alexithymia. IAPS pictures were presented while EEG was recorded. For HDA subjects processing of emotional pictures was accompanied by reduced P1 amplitudes most pronounced for pleasant and neutral pictures. In response to unpleasant pictures the P3 amplitudes were reduced. These amplitude modulations were predicted only by one alexithymia facet. P1 amplitudes systematically covaried with P3 amplitudes supporting the assumption that deficits in early emotional processing contribute to later processing deficits.

► Present manuscript focuses on early processing deficits of emotional stimuli in alexithymia using EEG.
► Our results throw new light on critical central abnormalities underlying problems in emotion processing and social functioning in relationship to this personality construct.
► We present evidence that in participants with high scores of alexithymia deficits in early emotional processing contribute to difficulties in the evaluation and appraisal of emotional stimuli in alexithymia.
► Our results are important to understand underlying deficits which might contribute to problems in everyday functioning in alexithymia.