Cerebral organization of affect suggested by temporal lobe seizures

Abstract

A right-handed woman with independent left- and right-sided temporal lobe discharges was studied by continuous EEG and videotape monitoring for 3 weeks. Changes in affect were noted in the immediate and extended postictal periods and varied with the side of discharge. After a left-sided discharge, she became globally aphasic and depressed. Right-sided discharges evoked laughing and postictal hypomania. These manifestations were attributed to contralateral hemispheric disinhibition after ipsilateral seizure inactivation. This case provides evidence that the speech-dominant hemisphere subserves positive feelings and the nondominant hemisphere negative ones.