Cognitive and emotional dysfunction after central pontine myelinolysis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lee, Tatia M.C.^{; ;} | Cheung, Crystal C.Y.^; | Lau, Esther Y.Y. | Mak, Amanda | Li, Leonard S.W.^;

Affiliations: Neuropsychology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR | Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong and MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Hong Kong SAR | Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tatia M.C. Lee, Ph.D., K615, Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Tel.: +852 28578394; Fax: +852 25408920; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The case of a 67-year-old right-handed Chinese man with Central Pontine Myelinolysis [CPM] is described to illustrate the resulting cognitive and emotional disturbances. A comparison of the data in this report with that in published studies suggests that ethnicity does not seem to have much effect on the symptoms of CPM. Possible underlying neural-pathological mechanisms are discussed. This case further substantiates the speculation that the brainstem plays a role in higher cognitive processes and emotional regulation.

Keywords: Central Pontine Myelinolysis, pathological laughing and crying, cognition, emotion

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 14, no. 3-4, pp. 103-107, 2003