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Emotional and personality changes following cingulotomy
R A Cohen1, R Paul, T M Zawacki
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Miriam Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. ronald_cohen@brown.edu
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|August 5, 2003
Summary
Bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) lesions reduced emotional tension and anger. This suggests the ACC plays a role in emotional regulation and attention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is implicated in emotional processing and cognitive functions.
- Understanding the ACC's role is crucial for treating conditions involving emotional dysregulation and chronic pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of bilateral ACC lesions on emotional and personality functioning.
- To explore the relationship between emotional changes and cognitive performance post-cingulotomy.
Main Methods:
- Assessed patients undergoing cingulotomy for chronic pain using MMPI, POMS, cognitive tests, and pain ratings pre- and post-surgery.
- Included a control group of patients with intractable pain not undergoing cingulotomy.
Main Results:
- Cingulotomy patients showed significant reductions in self-reported tension and anger (POMS) and psychasthenia (MMPI Scale 7) compared to baseline and controls.
- Reduced tension (POMS-Tension) correlated significantly with attention-intention performance.
Conclusions:
- The ACC modulates emotional experience, particularly self-perceived tension.
- A relationship exists between the emotional and attentional effects following cingulotomy.