Five patients with a manic episode and 7 age-comparable control subjects
were studied with single-photon emission computed tomography and
[99mTc]d,l-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime. Manic patients showed
significantly lower blood flow in the basal portion of the right temporal
lobe compared with normal control subjects. Moreover, manic patients showed
a left-right asymmetry (a significantly lower perfusion in the right versus
left temporal basal cortex), as well as a dorsal- ventral asymmetry (a
significantly lower perfusion in the right temporal basal versus dorsal
cortex). These findings suggest that the right basotemporal cortex may play
an important role in the production of primary mania.Abstract Teaser