Circling and rotational automatisms in patients with frontotemporal cortical and subcortical lesions

Abstract

✓ The authors report five patients who had circling or rotational automatisms similar to movements described in monkeys following epileptogenic lesions. All patients were found to have intracranial lesions in the frontotemporal junction: two had tumors, one had demonstrated cerebrovascular insufficiency, one had an extensive depressed fracture, and one an aneurysm. In all patients, EEG's were performed and foci identified along with the degree of spread of electrical activity. Three were treated conservatively and two surgically, with good results; seizure activity subsided and the EEG's reverted to a more normal pattern. The importance of electroencephalographic and electrocorticographic studies is emphasized.