Catastrophic reaction in crossed aphasia

Abstract

We report the case of a right-handed patient who developed a global aphasia after a right hemisphere cerebrovascular lesion. Despite having extensive damage to the right hemisphere this patient did not show the expected emotional features that usually follow right hemisphere lesions such as anosognosia, indifference reaction or undue cheerfulness, but displayed anxiety, frustration, outbursts of crying, and withdrawal characteristic of the catastrophic reaction that usually follows left hemisphere lesions. This case demonstrates that ‘crossed’ aphasics may not only have a reversed lateralization of language and related cognitive abilities, but a reversed affective lateralization as well.