A brain PET study in patients with narcolepsy–cataplexy -- Dauvilliers et al. 81 (3): 344 -- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
Hypermetabolism was found in the executive network in narcolepsy at baseline in fully awake condition. Wake state assessment during scanning appears critical to avoid results showing altered functional neurocircuitry secondary to sleepiness and not to the underlying neurological disorder per se. Finally, cataplexy attacks were characterised by a hypometabolism in the hypothalamus associated with wide bilateral brain area hypermetabolisms.