Brain : a journal of neurology
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Little is known about what pathways subserve mirth and its expression laughter. We present three patients with gelastic seizures and laughter elicited by electrical stimulation of the cortex who provide some insight into the mechanisms of laughter and its emotional concomitants. The first patient had seizures manifested by laughter without a subjective feeling of mirth. ⋯ The other two patients had complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin. Electrical stimulation of the fusiform gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus produced bursts of laughter accompanied by a feeling of mirth. These cases reveal a high likelihood of cingulate and basal temporal cortex contribution to laughter and mirth in humans, and suggest the possibility that the anterior cingulate region is involved in the motor act of laughter, while the basal temporal cortex is involved in processing of laughter's emotional content in man.
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The thoracic outlet syndromes encompass the diverse clinical entities affecting the branchial plexus or subclavian artery including cervical ribs or bands. Thoracic outlet syndrome are often difficult to diagnose on existing clinical and electrophysiological criteria and new diagnostic methods are necessary. This study reports our experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brachial plexus in 20 patients with suspected thoracic outlet syndrome. ⋯ We also observed instances of plexus distortion by post-traumatic callus of the first rib, and by a hypertrophied serratus anterior muscle. If they did not demonstrate a cervical rib, plain cervical spine radiographs had no value in predicting brachial plexus distortion. We believe MRI to be of potential value in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome by: (i) demonstrating deviation or distortion of nerves or blood vessels; (ii) suggesting the presence of radiographically invisible bands; (iii) disclosing other causes of thoracic outlet syndrome apart from ribs or bands.
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Our study documents the clinical and electrographic findings in 42 patients with medically refractory occipital lobe epilepsy, who underwent surgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute between 1930 and 1991, and the evolving manner in which those patients were studied by successive generations of investigators. In more than two-thirds of the patients the clinical manifestations indicated the occipital onset of the seizures. Seventy-three percent experienced visual aurae, of which elementary hallucinations were the most common and 12 also had ictal blindness. ⋯ A follow-up period of 1 to 46 yrs (mean 17 yrs) was available for 37 patients. Forty-six percent became seizure free and 21% had a significant reduction in seizure frequency. A better outcome was observed in those patients in whom there was no post-resection electrocorticographic or surface EEG epileptiform discharge, or who exhibited an occipital lobe lesion.
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The quantitative somatosensory thermotest (QST) assesses the function of afferent channels concerned with sensory submodalities served by small calibre fibres. Measured ramps of ascending or descending temperature are applied to the skin through a Peltier contact thermode, and detection thresholds are recorded as the subject signals the onset of a particular sensation. The present study describes underlying principles, methodological aspects and normal reference values for the QST. ⋯ Furthermore, while most methods of sensory testing only document normality or deficit, the QST permits additional documentation of hyperalgesia, a positive sensory phenomenon that implies unusual pathophysiologies such as sensitization of receptors, central hyperexcitability, disinhibition or, possibly, ectopic nerve impulse discharge. This psychophysical test does not specify the level within afferent channels, between skin and brainmind, where the abnormality resides. It is recommended that the QST for all four thermal specific and thermal pain functions be incorporated in routine neurological assessment.
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In order to investigate the plasticity of cutaneous sensory abnormalities in neuropathic pain, we monitored sensory and vasomotor effects of diagnostic sympathetic ganglion blocks in 24 patients, who suffered from chronic pain and cutaneous hyperalgesia following peripheral nerve or tissue injury. Ongoing pain was rated on a visual analogue scale, and pain evoked by innocuous tactile and cooling stimuli (hyperalgesia) on a verbal rating scale. Skin temperatures were determined at symmetric sites. ⋯ It could be reversed within minutes by a sympathetic blockade, but returned when sympathetic block subsided. Mechanoreceptor input by itself was not sufficient to maintain or rekindle the central sensitization. This supports the hypothesis that low-grade activity of nociceptors, possibly due to development of alpha-adrenergic sensitivity after injury, is involved in the maintenance of central sensitization.