Affiliations: Institute of Medical Psychology, University of
Tübingen, Germany | Department of Neurology, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, CA, USA | Department of Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology,
Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany | Neurological Clinic, University of Tübingen,
Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Caterina Breitenstein, Department of
Neurology, University of Southern California, VA Outpatient Clinic (126), 351
East Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA. Tel.: +1 213 253-2677, ext.
4666; Fax: +1 213 253-5146; E-mail: breitens@hsc.usc.edu.
Abstract: The present study examined the differential contribution of cortical
and subcortical brain structures in emotional processing by comparing patients
with focal cortical lesions (n = 32) to those with primarily
subcortical dysregulation of the basal ganglia (Parkinson's disease n = 14). A standardized measure of emotional perception
(Tübingen Affect Battery) was used. Only patients in the more advanced stages
of Parkinson's disease and patients with focal damage to the (right) frontal
lobe differed significantly from controls in both facial expression and
affective prosody recognition. The findings imply involvement of the
fronto-striatal circuitry in emotional processing.
Keywords: Facial expressions, affective prosody, right hemisphere dominance, Parkinson's disease
