Laterality of subcortical involvement and psychological functions.

Differences in psychological effects between lateralized cortical and subcortical brain lesions were assessed within a neuropsychological framework. The relative predominance of specific and nonspecific systems in the elaboration of incoming data at these cerebral levels and their participation in cognition and perceptual events was described. It was concluded that bilateral primacy of subcortical diffuse systems in contradistinction to unilateral primacy of cortical specific systems may account for observed differences between lateralized cortical and subcortical brain lesions. (3 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)