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Abstract

The cognitive and perceptual performance of 61 parkinsonians was studied as a function of unilateral basal ganglia surgery, specifically, chemothalamectomy and cryothalamectomy. Preoperative comparisons of non-neurological and parkinsonian Ss revealed no significant differences (p > .05). Three conclusions were warranted. (a) Cryothalamectomy does not adversely affect cognitive functions in the immediate post-operative period with the exception of greater impairment after right cryothalamectomy than after no surgery on some tasks of visual spatial performance not requiring overt verbal responses (p < .02). (b) Chemothalamectomy does not adversely affect cognition except for greater post-operative impairment on overt verbal performance after left chemothalamectomy than after left cryothalamectomy (p < .001). (c) Preoperative to long range comparisons revealed no differences between Ss undergoing surgery or no surgery (p > .05). Significantly shorter periods of time elapsed between successive testing in the case of cryothalamectomy with implications for effectiveness of treatment (p < .001, < .01). The role of subcortical structures in perceptual processes and in the elaboration of verbal behaviors was discussed.

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Verbal and Perceptual Functions after Surgery of Subcortical Structures

Abstract

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