Effects of Right and Left Unilateral Ect on Naming and Visual Discrimination Analysed in Relation to Handedness

Abstract

The use of unilateral ECT as a method of exploring differences between the functions of the cerebral hemispheres has been suggested by Pratt et al. (1971). These authors found a greater impairment on a test of naming and a tendency to slower return to consciousness after left-sided than after right-sided treatments. Assuming that these effects depend on left hemisphere language specialization, they went on to use them as possible indicators of cerebral dominance for speech in left handers. The present enquiry was designed to explore these differences further by comparing patients immediately after right-sided and left-sided ECT for their ability to name objects and to make visual discriminations and for their time of recovery. Handedness was assessed through a measure of relative manual speed as well as by the usual questions of preference and family handedness. The speed differences give a continuous measure of degrees of right and left handedness which can be correlated with measures of differences between the effects of right-sided and left-sided ECT.