The biological tropisms of the cerebral cortex

Abstract

Of the many notable contributions of Dr. Luis Barraquer-Ferré to medicine, we have been especially interested m his studies of the semeiology of the frontal lobe. In these he has followed the lead of the distinguished Barraquer-Roviralta, who in 1921 first described the grasp reflex of the foot. We have found the monograph of Barraquer-Ferré (1946), summar izing his many earlier papers, especially valuable. In paying tribute to his distinguished contributions we would like to discuss his recent description of "'Forced Circling Gait in Progressive Circles" (1939, 1951).Circling gait to the same side of a frontal lobe lesion in animals has been observed by many experimenters since Bianchi (1895), and usually lasts only three or four weeks after the lesion. For a shorter period it is associated with turning of the head and eyes to the side of the lesion. It also has been well described by Barraquer-Ferré (1983). These symptoms are seldom seen in man, and then usually only for a few days following a severe frontal lesion (Moniz and Lima, 1936). More commonly there are only slight deviations in posture (Goldstein, 1923) and a disinclination to look to the side of the lesion (Foerster, 1936). We have observed that patients keep turning in bed to the side of a severe unilateral frontal traumatic lesion, but by the time they are sufficiently recovered to walk the symptom has disappeared. Disappearance of these effects is evidently a form of compensation, for if in the monkey the remaining frontal lobe is removed, the animal for a time circles to the other side, with brief deviation of the head and eyes to that side.Associated with circling movement is a general restlessness. This develops later, usually in the second or third week after ablation of the frontal lobe in the monkey. This restlessness takes the form of a continual pacing up and down the cage., often with stereotyped habits such as touch ing some prominent object such as a feeding box over and over again. This restless behavior becomes gradually less prominent, and after two or three months is only present when the animal is disturbed, or is confined to a small cage. In human patients such restlessness takes the form of stereotyped habits, such as patting the bed clothes, and seldom persist for more than one month.Of the many effects which can be produced by electrical stimulation of the frontal lobe, turning of the head and eyes to the opposite side is well known (Ferrier, 1886). It is most easily produced by stimulation of the granular cortex of the middle frontal convolution (area 8), but can be obtained from a much wider area by facilitation. Kennard and Ectors (1938) reported that following ablation of area 8 in monkeys deviation of the head and eyes and circling to the side of the lesion oc curred.Others, including ourselves, reviewed by Denny-Brown (1951) have found that a much larger frontal lesion is necessary. We are of the opinion that the motor effects from stimulation of area 8 are only the result of a relative concentration in that area of the ...

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