Emotional Processing in Multiple Sclerosis / Clinically Isolated Syndrome: A Neuropsychological fMRI-study

The aim of this prospective non-interventional neuropsychological one visit study involving functional MRI (fMRI) is to ascertain emotional processing in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) compared to healthy control subjects.

In different experiments, the modulation of cognitive and motor responses by visual emotional information and the ability to discriminate visual emotional stimuli will be tested using experimental behavioral paradigms. Furthermore, functional connectivity and - using fMRI - activations of brain regions known to be involved with emotional processing will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 85 years
• Right handed
• For patients: Diagnosis of CIS or diagnosis of MS since ≤5 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive deficits as determined by a MMSE Score < 25/30
• Depression as determined by a HADS-D Score > 7
• Anxiety as determined by a HADS-A Score > 7
• Physical disabilities interfering with the study procedures or impacting outcome measures
• Clinically significant diseases within 7 days prior to the study evaluations
• Contraindications against cranial MRI without contrast