Contribution of different regions of the prefrontal cortex and lesion laterality to deficit of decision-making on the Iowa Gambling Task.
Few studies have examined the contribution of different sub-regions of the prefrontal cortex and lesion laterality to decision-making abilities. In addition, there are inconsistent findings about the role of ventromedial and dorsolateral lesions in decision-making deficit. In this study, decision-making processes are investigated following different damaged areas of the prefrontal cortex. We paid particular attention to the contribution of laterality, lesion location and lesion volume in decision-making deficit. Twenty-seven patients with discrete ventromedial lesions, dorsolateral lesions or extended-frontal lesions were compared with normal subjects on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Our results showed that all frontal subgroups were impaired on the IGT in comparison with normal subjects. We noted also that IGT performance did not vary systematically based on lesion laterality or location. More precisely, our lesion analysis revealed that decision-making processes depend on a large cerebral network, including both ventromedial and dorsolateral areas of the prefrontal cortex. Consistent with past findings, our results support the claim that IGT deficit is not solitarily associated with ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesions.
Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Boulvard Mohamed Karoui, C.P. 4002 Sousse, Tunisia; Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), France. Electronic address: werchefani.riadh@laposte.net.
Riadh
R
Ouerchefani
Department of Neurosurgery, 51 Avenue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 cedex Créteil, Paris, France. Electronic address: naoufelour@yahoo.fr.
Naoufel
N
Ouerchefani
LUNAM Université, Université d'Angers, Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), France. Electronic address: PhAllain@chu-angers.fr.
Philippe
P
Allain
Faculty of Human and Social Science of Tunisia, Boulvard 9 Avril, C.P. 1007 Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: riadhbenrejeb@yahoo.fr.
Mohamed Riadh
MR
Ben Rejeb
LUNAM Université, Université d'Angers, Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), France. Electronic address: DiLeGall@chu-angers.fr.
Didier
D
Le Gall
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Decision making; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Executive functions; Iowa Gambling Task; Ventromedial prefrontal cortex