| Abstract: | 33 brain tumor patients (aged 26–74 yrs) were investigated with quantitative and qualitative neuropsychological assessments, systematic behavioral observations, and recordings of regional cerebral blood (rCBF). Ss with supratentorial highly malignant gliomas showed severe disturbances of attention, lack of control over premotor and executive functions, distractibility, a deficient abstract attitude, a loss of speech initiative, and diminished speech production. Such impairments are associated with functions of the frontal lobe system and may be related to frontal functional cortical changes as mirrored by rCBF. Signs of frontal dysfunction were seen in Ss with nonfrontal tumors and may suggest frontal lobe diaschisis in patients with Grade III–IV astrocytomas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
