title: Isolated frontopolar cortex lesion:  a case study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frontopolar cortex has been proposed to mediate prospective memory functioning, multitasking, relational integration, processing of internal states, and self-referential evaluation. These theories are based primarily on functional activation studies. The few lesion models reported have not been restricted to the frontopolar cortex.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We used neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging to study an otherwise healthy woman with an isolated hemorrhagic infarct in the frontopolar cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition to a standard stroke work-up, the patient had cognitive psychometric tests reflecting the theoretical frontal functions of initiation, monitoring, inhibition, and working memory, as well as a test for emotional intelligence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The midline frontopolar intracerebral hemorrhage was isolated, free of other pathology, and almost solely within Brodmann area 10. The only psychometric abnormalities concerned awareness of, understanding, and expressing emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report may be the first of an isolated bilateral lesion of the frontopolar cortex, Brodmann area 10, with uniformly normal frontal lobe tests except for 2 abnormal findings of emotional intelligence. This lesion study supports the proposal that the medial frontopolar cortex is necessary for emotional processing of internal states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. Michael.Hoffman1@va.gov
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bar-On
mesh_terms: D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology