Which neurological structures are implicated in alexithymia?
Investigations so far suggest two models of neuropsychological dysfunction. The limbic-neocortical model proposes a disconnection between the limbic system and the neocortex. The limbic system triggers and co-ordinates the physiological reactions to emotive stimuli, and the neocortex interprets what is happening and how it relates to personal goals. If the neocortex cannot access detailed information about the reactions or their association with the stimulus, then it cannot classify or interpret the emotion. The interhemispheric model implicates faulty communication between the two cerebral hemispheres. The right hemisphere specializes in the sensing and contextual interpretation of internal feedback from bodily emotions. The left hemisphere specializes in categorisation, language and logic. The hypothesis is that the left hemisphere, which does the talking, is ignorant of the intuitive information in the right hemisphere. So although the person may behave emotionally at a subconscious
