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The Effect of Prefrontal Leucotomy on the Psychogalvanic Response

Barnwood House, Gloucester
Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol

ABSTRACT

To test the effect of prefrontal leucotomy on emotional drive we have tested the effect of the operation on the psychogalvanic response.

A group of leucotomized patients was compared with a similar group of psychotics;and some patients were studied both before and after operation. At each session four stimuli were used, and each was presented once in real and once in symbolic form. Almost every patient was tested at several sessions.

The patients showed clear evidence of individual peculiarities in their change of responsiveness after operation; but there was little evidence that any uniform trend existed. Stimuli given in symbolic form retained their power of evoking the response.

These results do not support the suggestion that prefrontal leucotomy diminishes emotional drive.

Received for publication February 3, 1950.