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Biomedical subjects

M F Jurko

Publications and source records attributed to M F Jurko.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

The K-complex in thalamic depth recordings.

K-complexes were recorded from the thalamus in a patient having stereotaxic surgery for intractable stump pain. Two insertions were performed, one in the lateral and the other in the medial thalamus. It was found that, (1) very prominent K-complex activity was present at the depth electrode with relatively meager representation of these forms at the scalp; (2) the trailing spindle component of the K-complex was well displayed on the scalp, but the sharp and slow components were not readily visible in the scalp recordings, suggesting a multiple system response; (3) insertion into the lateral thalamus revealed much K-complex activity in contrast to the relatively little amount found with the insertion into the medial thalamus. These findings support earlier hypotheses of a subcortical origin, and specifically thalamic participation, in the K-complex formations.

Adult

Verbal learning dysfunction with combined centre median and amygdala lesions.

Stereotaxic lesions in either or both amygdala did not impair verbal learning ability (presented by ear as a paired-associates test). Centre median lesions alone did not impair this form of learning; however, when combined with a left amygdala lesion a significant decrease in scores occurred which persisted for up to two years after operation. The data support a hypothesis that medial thalamic structures have alerting functions in learning mechanisms.

Amygdala

Amygdalotomy for bilateral temporal lobe seizures.

A 37-year-old woman had bilateral anygdalotomy for psychomotor and minor motor seizures and long periods of very pronounced mental depression. The patient has been seizure-free for four years postoperatively. A preoperative left temporal spike focus disappeared after extensive left anygdalotomy. Of particular interest in this case is the recovery of olfactory and memory functions which were partially impaired by the bilateral lesions. Bilateral anygdalotomy is effective in relieving temporal lobe seizures without the complications and deficits that usually occur with resections of the bilateral temporal lobe.

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