Results of stimulation and destruction of the posterior hypothalamus in man

Abstract

✓ Autonomic and somatomotor responses to electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus are reported in 51 patients with pathologically aggressive behavior. The stimulated area causing rise in blood pressure, tachycardia, and maximal pupillary dilatation lies in the posteromedial hypothalamus, more than 1 mm and less than 5 mm lateral to the lateral wall of the third ventricle, occupying a triangle formed by the midpoint of the intercommissural line, the rostral end of the aqueduct, and the anterior border of the mammillary body. Electrical stimulation of this (ergotropic) triangle resulted in desynchronization of the electroencephalogram (EEG) with hippocampal theta waves, or diffuse irregular delta waves of high voltage. Cases with violent behavior showed higher plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in the fasting stage; these were markedly elevated by electrical stimulation of the ergotropic triangle. Points in the ergotropic triangle where signs of sympathetic discharge were most marked were electrocauterized bilaterally. This procedure produced marked calming effects (95% of the cases) during the follow-up period of more than 2 years. Postoperatively there was a tendency to a decrease in sympathicotonia or an increase in parasympathicotonia. The follow-up plasma level of NEFA was found to have decreased to approximately the normal value.