Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T11:37:40.562Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Autonomic Responses in Prefrontal Leucotomy

Preliminary Report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

F. Reitman*
Affiliation:
From Netherne Hospital, Coulsdon, Surrey

Extract

In bilateral prefrontal leucotomy inter alia the fronto-subthalamic, the fronto septal and fronto-hypothalamic (posterior) projections may be severed, together with reciprocally projecting tracts. These may represent the anatomical basis for the altered autonomic visceral disturbances observed following operations. The reports on bilateral leucotomy emphasize the post-operative “improvement in autonomic functions with a tendency to gain weight” (Vonderahe). After lobotomy transient visceral disturbances make their appearance, such as disturbed sphincter control and slightly but permanently decreased blood pressure, whilst vasomotor disturbances and sweating on the contralateral half of the body have been noted following unilateral lobotomy.

Type
Part I.—Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1945 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Freeman, and Watts, (1942), Psychosurgery. Baltimore: C. Thomas.Google Scholar
2 Kremer, M. (1942), Quart. J. exp. Physiol., 31, 337.Google Scholar
3 Gold, L. (1943), Arch. Neur. and Psych., 50, 311.Google Scholar
4 Vonderahe, A. (1943), Ohio St. M. J., 39, 325.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.