FOREBRAIN AND RAGE REACTIONS

Abstract

A study was made of the parts of the forebrain which are related to the initiation of rage reactions observed in decorticate cats and dogs. Lesions restricted to neocortical areas failed to produce rage reactions. Following lesions of the frontal poles hypermotility could be observed but no convincing outbursts of rage. Definite manifestations of rage appeared if the lesions (e.g., extirpation of the frontal lobes) encroached upon the olfactory tubercles or followed isolated lesions of the tubercles, whereas destruction of the olfactory bulbs or section of their stalks had no or only slight effects. After acute lesions of the hippocampus-fornix system, rudimentary, and in some animals, marked rage reactions appeared, particularly in cases in which the lesion of the fornices encroached upon the septum pellucidum. Definite outbursts of rage were observed after bilateral lesions of the amygdaloid nuclei. Lesions of the pyriform lobes, as long as they remained superficial, evoked only slight and transitory symptoms of rage.