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Functional Brain Imaging of Auditory Hallucinations: From Self-Monitoring Deficits to Co-opted Neural Resources

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The Neuroscience of Hallucinations

Abstract

We review functional brain imaging studies addressing possible neural mechanisms underlying the experience of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). We propose that AVHs arise from unbidden auditory verbal perceptions of other people talking that convey characteristic, and often disturbing or disruptive, content. Further, we propose that the “engine” for these experiences is a hyperconnected corticostriatal network resulting in otherwise nascent activity gaining access to consciousness. This network is responsible for registration of sensory aspects of experience, including the acoustic vocal characteristics. The nonself perception of this experience may result from dysfunction in the efference copy/corollary discharge mechanism.

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Abbreviations

AVHs:

Auditory verbal hallucinations

BA:

Brodmann’s area

BA22:

Wernicke’s area (left)

BA42:

Primary auditory cortex

BOLD:

Blood oxygen level dependent

EEG:

Electroencephalography

ERF:

Event-related field

ERN:

Error-related negativity

ERP:

Event-related potential

fMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Hz:

Hertz (cycles per second)

MEG:

Magnetoencephalography

ms:

Milliseconds

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Ford’s work on this chapter was supported by grants from NIMH (R01, K02) and the VA (Merit Review), which were administered by the Northern California Institute for Research and Education, and with resources of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California. Dr. Hoffman’s research was supported by NIMH (R01), NSF, the Dana Foundation, and NARSAD.

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Ford, J.M., Hoffman, R.E. (2013). Functional Brain Imaging of Auditory Hallucinations: From Self-Monitoring Deficits to Co-opted Neural Resources. In: Jardri, R., Cachia, A., Thomas, P., Pins, D. (eds) The Neuroscience of Hallucinations. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4121-2_19

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