Sensorimotor regression

Sensorimotor regression may be considered a defense mechanism. It occurs for example in functional catatonia where a return to a more limited level of functioning may help resolve a psychological conflict.

Northoff et al (2007) argue that combined psychodynamic and imaging studies suggest that sensorimotor regression might be associated with dysfunction in the neural network including the orbitofrontal, the medial prefrontal and the premotor cortices.