Isolated Frontopolar Cortex Lesion: A Case Study

    Authors

    M. Hoffmann;R. Bar-On

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Cogn. Behav. Neurol.

    Keywords

    prefrontal lesions; Brodmann area 10; emotional intelligence; cognition; neuropsychology; ANTERIOR PREFRONTAL CORTEX; FRONTAL-LOBE DAMAGE; MEMORY RETRIEVAL; HUMAN; COGNITION; STROKE; AREA-10; RECALL; Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Neurology

    Abstract

    Background: The frontopolar cortex has been proposed to mediate prospective memory functioning, multitasking, relational integration, processing of internal states, and self-referential evaluation. These theories are based primarily on functional activation studies. The few lesion models reported have not been restricted to the frontopolar cortex. Aim: We used neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging to study an otherwise healthy woman with an isolated hemorrhagic infarct in the frontopolar cortex. Methods: In addition to a standard stroke work-up, the patient had cognitive psychometric tests reflecting the theoretical frontal functions of initiation, monitoring, inhibition, and working memory, as well as a test for emotional intelligence. Results: The midline frontopolar intracerebral hemorrhage was isolated, free of other pathology, and almost solely within Brodmann area 10. The only psychometric abnormalities concerned awareness of, understanding, and expressing emotions. Conclusions: This report may be the first of an isolated bilateral lesion of the frontopolar cortex, Brodmann area 10, with uniformly normal frontal lobe tests except for 2 abnormal findings of emotional intelligence. This lesion study supports the proposal that the medial frontopolar cortex is necessary for emotional processing of internal states.

    Journal Title

    Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology

    Volume

    25

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    50

    Last Page

    56

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000301335000007

    ISSN

    1543-3633

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