[Lateralization of mental functions at the subcortical level (according to material from stereotaxic surgery)]

In 26 patients with expressed signs of parkinsonism the authors studied the state of higher cortical functions prior to and following stereotaxic operations. The results of such studies point to a distinct connection between the changes of certain mental processes and the side of the operation. It was demonstrated that the subcortical structures of the left and right hemisphere participate in the mnestic function in different ways. The specificity and different directions of postoperative changes in the higher cortical functions may in the opinion of the authors speak in favour of a certain specificity in the contributed organization of mental processes on behalf of the subcortical structures.