Abolition of lifelong specific phobia: a novel therapeutic consequence of left mesial temporal lobectomy

Abstract

Numerous imaging studies have confirmed the amygdala as prominent within a neural network mediating specific phobia, including arachnophobia. We report the case of a patient in whom arachnophobia was abolished after left temporal mesial lobectomy, with unchanged fear responses to other stimuli. The phenomenon of abolition of specific phobia after amygdala removal has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported.

Keywords:

• phobia
• specific
• arachnophobia
• amygdala
• abolition

Acknowledgments

We thank the patient for his participation and thank and acknowledge our neurosurgery colleague Mr. Giles Critchley. Informed signed consent was obtained for the publication of this report. This report has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously to any other journal.