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[Left-sidedness and functional somatic symptoms]

P Cathébras1

  • 1Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal Québec, Canada.

Annales Medico-Psychologiques
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Functional somatic symptoms, often termed "hysterical," predominantly affect the left side of the body. This phenomenon may be linked to the negative symbolism of the left and the right hemisphere's role in processing emotions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Historically, functional somatic symptoms, particularly those labeled "hysterical," have been observed to manifest more frequently on the left side of the body.
  • This left-sided prevalence is a persistent, yet largely unexplained, clinical observation.
  • Existing literature suggests potential links to cultural symbolism and hemispheric brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential explanations for the observed left-sided predominance of functional somatic symptoms.
  • To integrate anthropological and neuropsychological perspectives on this phenomenon.
  • To conceptualize functional somatic symptoms as potential bodily metaphors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical clinical literature on hysteria.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of anthropological studies on the symbolism of laterality.
  • Consideration of neuropsychological findings regarding cerebral hemisphere functions in emotion processing.

    • Main Results:

    • The left-sided prevalence of functional somatic symptoms is a recurring observation since the 19th century.
    • Anthropological data reveal widespread negative symbolic associations with the left side across cultures.
    • Neuropsychological research indicates a greater involvement of the right cerebral hemisphere in emotional processing.

    Conclusions:

    • The left-sided manifestation of functional somatic symptoms can be understood by considering both cultural symbolism and hemispheric specialization.
    • Functional somatic symptoms may represent a form of embodied metaphor, reflecting emotional experiences.
    • Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay between culture, brain function, and somatic symptom presentation.