[Impaired recognition of emotion improved by L-DOPA in a patient with amygdala damage].
We examined the effect of levodopa (L-DOPA) in a patient with a lesion of the amygdala and impaired recognition of emotion. Before L-DOPA, recognition of fear and disgust was significantly impaired compared to recognition scores in controls. After receiving L-DOPA, the patient showed normal recognition of fear and disgust. After the drug wore off, recognition declined to her initial unmedicated performance. We hypothesized that L-DOPA may have activated dopaminergic systems involved in recognition of emotion such as the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, compensating for the amygdala dysfunction. Alternatively. L-DOPA may have activated intact portions of the amygdala.
Sato
Tatsuya
T
Department of Neurology, Showa University School of Medicine.
Takahashi
Nobuyoshi
N
Kawamura
Mitsuru
M
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine