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Thirty-two patients were examined before and after partial excisions of their frontal lobes performed because of tumor or
abscess. Emotional changes occurred in thirty cases. These changes were revealed in a diminished inhibition of affective responses in twenty-five cases, and in a displacement of the habitual feeling level in twenty-eight cases, in twenty towards euphoria and in eight towards depression. Changes in volitional and psychomotor activity occurred in twenty-two cases. Fourteen patients showed restlessness and twelve deterioration of initiative and interest. These symptoms sometimes appeared together. Intellectual changes, mainly involving the higher faculties, occurred in twenty-one cases. There did not seem to be any distinct difference between the patients with left-sided and the patients with right-sided lesions. Large excisions seemed to result in greater deterioration than small. Certain vegetative symptoms (increase in weight and appetite, increased and decreased libido, youthful appearance) were observed but not frequently enough to allow any opinion on their significance.
An exact description of the methods of study including a large number of tests and a detailed report about the case histories form the main part of the book and the basis of the conclusion.