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Pathological laughter and behavioural change in childhood pontine glioma

Darren R Hargrave1, Donald J Mabbott, Eric Bouffet

  • 1Paediatric Oncology Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Downs Road, SM2 5PT, Sutton, Surrey, UK. darren.hargrave@rmh.nhs.uk

Journal of Neuro-Oncology
|November 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pontine glioma in children can cause unusual behavioral changes like pathological laughter or separation anxiety, challenging the view of the pons as solely mediating motor functions. This suggests a broader role for the pons in affective behavior through disrupted brain networks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

  • Pontine glioma is typically associated with motor deficits and cranial nerve palsies.
  • The pons has not traditionally been recognized for its role in complex affective behaviors.

Observation:

  • Nine children with pontine glioma exhibited significant behavioral changes.
  • These changes included pathological laughter and separation anxiety (school refusal).

Findings:

  • Pontine lesions can disrupt cerebro-ponto-cerebellar pathways.
  • This disruption may underlie the observed complex affective and cognitive behavioral changes.

Implications:

  • The pons may play a more significant role in affective behavior than previously understood.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for diagnosing and managing pontine glioma.
  • This research opens new avenues for studying brain-behavior relationships in pediatric neuro-oncology.

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