The relationship of number or size and site of unilaterally and bilaterally induced thalamic lesions to psychological changes in parkinsonians was assessed by means of quantifiable tests of cognition, perception, and recent memory. In no instance was lesion size or site, within the confines of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus, significantly or differentially related to cognitive or perceptual changes. These findings were discussed in terms of possible roles of thalamic nuclei in psychological functions. The “law of physiological safety,” the role of functional compensation, and the presence of relatively small lesions within a larger bilateral thalamic zone were considered in interpreting the results. Clinical implications were noted with regard to patient selection for placement of multiple lesions. The presence of wide individual differences in a brain's tolerance of lesion infliction was emphasized also.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ChapmanL. F.ThetfordW. N.BerlinL.GuthrieT. C.WolffH. G.Highest integrative functions in man during stress. In SolomonH. C.CobbS.PenfieldW. (Eds.), The brain and human behavior. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1958. Pp. 491–534. (Res. Publ. Assn for Res. in Nerv. and Ment. Dis. Vol. 36)
2.
CooperI. S.BergmannL.CaracalosA.Anatomic verification of the lesion which abolished parkinsonian tremor and rigidity. Neurol., 1963, 13, 779–787.
3.
CooperI. S.SamraK.The thalamic lesion which abolishes tremor and rigidity of parkinsonism: A radiologic-clinico-anatomic correlating study. J. neurol. Sci., in press.
GottschaldtK.Ueber den Einfluss der Erfahrung auf die Wahrnehmung von Figuren: 1. Ueber den Einfluss gehaeufter Einpraegung von Figuren auf ihre Sichtbarkeit in umfassenden Konfigurationen. Psychol. Forsch., 1926, 1, 261–317.
HebbD. O.PenfieldW.Human behavior after extensive bilateral removal of the frontal lobes. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., 1940, 44, 421–438.
8.
HolzingerK. J.CrowderN. A.Manual for the Holzinger-Crowder Uni-factor Tests. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1955.
9.
LashleyK. S.Brain mechanisms and intelligence. Chicago: Chicago Univer. Press, 1929.
10.
LevitaE.RiklanM.Cognitive and perceptual functions and lesion location in basal ganglia surgery. J. clin. Psychol., 1965, 4, 367–369. (a)
11.
LevitaE.RiklanM.Temporal aspects of perceptual functions after surgery of subcortical structures. J. Psychol., 1965, 59, 295–298. (b)
12.
LevitaE.RiklanM.Patterns of psychological functions before and after unilateral and after bilateral thalamic surgery. Percept. mot. Skills, 1967, 24, 619–626.
13.
LevitaE.RiklanM.CooperI. S.Visual and perceptual functions after surgery of subcortical structures. Percept. mot. Skills, 1964, 18, 195–206.
14.
LevitaE.RiklanM.CooperI. S.Psychological comparison of unilateral and bilateral thalamic surgery. J. abnorm. Psychol., 1967, 72, 251–254.
15.
MeltzerS. J.Factors of safety in animal structure and animal economy. Science, 1907, 25, 481–498.
16.
MettlerF. A.FinchG.GerdenE.CullerE.Acoustic value of the several components of the auditory pathway. Brain, 1934, 57, 457.
17.
MisiakH.The flicker-fusion test and its applications. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1967, 29, 616–622.
18.
NorthR. D.ZubinJ.Complex mental functions. In LewisN.D.C.LandisC.KingH. E. (Eds.), Studies in topectomy. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1956. Pp. 75–88.
ProctorF.RiklanM.CooperI. S.TeuberH. L.Somatosensory status of parkinsonian patients before and after chemothalamectomy. Neurol., 1963, 13, 906–912.
21.
QuashaM. H.LikertR.The Revised Minnesota Paper Form Board Test. J. educ. Psychol., 1937, 28, 197–204.
22.
RavenJ. C.Guide to using the Coloured Progressive Matrices. London: Lewis, 1958.
23.
RiklanM.DillerL.Visual-motor performance before and after chemosurgery of the basal ganglia in parkinsonism. J. nerv. ment. Dis., 1961, 32, 307–313.
24.
RiklanM.DillerL.WeinerH.CooperI. S.Psychological studies on effects of chemosurgery of the basal ganglia in parkinsonism: 1. Intellectual functioning. A.M.A. Arch. gen. Psychiat., 1960, 2, 22–31.
25.
RiklanM.LevitaE.Psychological effects of lateralized basal ganglia lesions: A factorial study. J. nerv. ment. Dis., 1964, 138, 233–240.
26.
RiklanM.LevitaE.Laterality of subcortical involvement and psychological functions. Psychol. Bull., 1965, 64, 217–224.
27.
RiklanM.LevitaE.Subcortical correlates of human behavior: A psychological study of thalamic and basal ganglia surgery. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, in press.
28.
RiklanM.LevitaE.CooperI. S.Psychological effects of bilateral subcortical surgery for parkinson's disease. J. nerv. ment. Dis., 1966, 141, 403–409.
29.
SchaltenbrandG.BaileyP.Introduction to stereotaxis with an atlas of the human brain. Vol. II. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1959.
30.
SheerD. E.Psychometric studies. In LewisN. D. C.LandisC.KingH. E. (Eds.), Studies in topectomy. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1956. Pp. 56–74.
31.
StroopJ. R.Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. J. exp. Psychol., 1935, 18, 643–661.
32.
ThorndikeE. L.LorgeI.The teacher's word book of 30,000 words. New York: Teachers Coll., Columbia Univer., 1952.
