title: Delusions and the Right Hemisphere: A Review of the Case for the Right Hemisphere as a Mediator of Reality-Based Belief.
abstract: Delusions are beliefs that remain fixed despite evidence that they are incorrect. Although the precise neural mechanism of delusional belief remains to be elucidated, there is a predominance of right-hemisphere lesions among patients with delusional syndromes accompanied by structural pathology, suggesting that right-hemisphere lesions, or networks with key nodes in the right hemisphere, may be playing a role. The authors discuss the potential theoretical basis and empiric support for a specific right-hemisphere role in delusion production, drawing on its roles in pragmatic communication; perceptual integration; attentional surveillance and anomaly/novelty detection; and belief updating.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York (LG); and the Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York (SB).
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gurin
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York (LG); and the Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York (SB).
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003702:Delusions / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans
keywords: Hemispheric Asymmetries and Lateralization; Organic Mental Disorders; Psychosis; Stroke and Other Cerebral Vascular Disease (Neuropsychiatric Aspects); Traumatic Brain Injury