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Sensory aphasia and amusia. The myeloarchitectonic basis
301
Book reviews
Psychophysiological Aspects of Space Flight, Edited Press, New York, 1961. pp. x T 393, S10.00.
by BERNARD E. FLAHERTY. Columbia
University
IN MAY 1960 a group of research workers dealing with the problems of space flight met together to discuss the psychophysiological aspects of man’s entry into a new dimension. The result is an absorbing series of papers, embracing the engineering and technical factors concerned in space flight, as well as physiological and psychological researches. Although by necessity many of the communications are somewhat fragmentary, indeed, tell us nothing new, the overall effect of the book is to arouse a great sense of excitement in the reader. Here is a field where psychophysiological theory can be put to the test, and where there will be no room for fanciful ideas. It can be objected that one is left with the impression that most of the studies are of a psychology without psychology, a criticism always levelled against any attempt at objectivity. But surely the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the very successful manned flights so far have shown that this type of psychophysiological research in fact, produces results. We are going to hear more of the psychophysiology of space flight over the coming years; the problems posed by man in space may even provide psychosomatic medicine with the ‘shot-in-the-arm’ which at the moment, it so badly needs. DENIS LEIGH
K. KLE~ST.: Sensory Aphasia and Amusia. The Myeloarchitectonic and J. B. STANTON. Pergamon Press, Oxford. Pp. 95, 30s.
Basis.
Translated
by F. J. FISH
THE author
of this book was the last in the line of localizers which commenced with Franz Gall. Hughlings Jackson’s teaching concerning the localization of functions of the highest level of integration was completely ignored by Kleist. Nor did he try to analyse the functions which he localized with such precision. His approach was that of his master Wernicke. It is fitting that Kleist’s last publication should be concerned with sensory aphasia first described by Wernicke. He evolved a detailed myeloarchitecture of the cortex of the temporal lobe, which he believed to be divisible into eighteen fields. He attempted, with the help of serial myelin stained sections, to localize the lesions causing various types of sensory aphasia and amusia. Considering the crudeness of the histological method employed, and the fact that in the majority of his cases the lesion which he regarded as responsible for the aphasia was not the only one present, it is not surprising that Kleist’s deductions failed to be generally accepted. He believed that he had succeeded in demonstrating the precise areas of the temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere where the comprehension of speech and of single words was localized. Sensory amusia he believed to be due to a combination of a temporal lobe lesion with damage to Corti’s organs in the inner ear. Although Kleist’s methods and approach are now regarded as obsolete, his clinical observations will continue to be of interest. For this reason the translators deserve gratitude for acquainting English readers with his work. E. STENGEL
FELIX DEUTSCH:
Pp. 106. DM.
Body, 18.
mind and the Sensory
Gateways.
S. Karger,
Basle
and
New
York.
1962
SINCE its earliest days psychosomatic medicine has been energized by contributions from psychoanalysis. Following in this tradition Dr. Deutsch in this volume attempts to define the role played by perceptual data in the determination of psychosomatic symptoms. His approach is based upon psychotherapeutic work with patients and he makes appropriate inferences which help in bridging the gap between ego psychology and neurophysiology. It is hypothesized that during the pre-verbal phase of emotional development a vital part is played by the brainstem reticular formation in organising perception. Three clinical cases are described in detail and it is shown that when certain words with a sensory connotation are used as deliberate stimuli by the interviewer important unconscious material may emerge. Subsequently a single patient suffering from torticollis was interviewed by three different psychiatrists, each employing an actual (non-verbal) olfactory, temperature or visual stimulus. In each interview the examiner was able to achieve rapid entry to conflict-laden areas through the particular sensory gateway which he had chosen. The technique here described is likely to have considerable research significance. It also renders “the leap from psyche to soma” a little less mysterious. A. BALF~UR Sc~atu
Book reviews
Psychophysiological Aspects of Space Flight, Edited Press, New York, 1961. pp. x T 393, S10.00.
by BERNARD E. FLAHERTY. Columbia
University
IN MAY 1960 a group of research workers dealing with the problems of space flight met together to discuss the psychophysiological aspects of man’s entry into a new dimension. The result is an absorbing series of papers, embracing the engineering and technical factors concerned in space flight, as well as physiological and psychological researches. Although by necessity many of the communications are somewhat fragmentary, indeed, tell us nothing new, the overall effect of the book is to arouse a great sense of excitement in the reader. Here is a field where psychophysiological theory can be put to the test, and where there will be no room for fanciful ideas. It can be objected that one is left with the impression that most of the studies are of a psychology without psychology, a criticism always levelled against any attempt at objectivity. But surely the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the very successful manned flights so far have shown that this type of psychophysiological research in fact, produces results. We are going to hear more of the psychophysiology of space flight over the coming years; the problems posed by man in space may even provide psychosomatic medicine with the ‘shot-in-the-arm’ which at the moment, it so badly needs. DENIS LEIGH
K. KLE~ST.: Sensory Aphasia and Amusia. The Myeloarchitectonic and J. B. STANTON. Pergamon Press, Oxford. Pp. 95, 30s.
Basis.
Translated
by F. J. FISH
THE author
of this book was the last in the line of localizers which commenced with Franz Gall. Hughlings Jackson’s teaching concerning the localization of functions of the highest level of integration was completely ignored by Kleist. Nor did he try to analyse the functions which he localized with such precision. His approach was that of his master Wernicke. It is fitting that Kleist’s last publication should be concerned with sensory aphasia first described by Wernicke. He evolved a detailed myeloarchitecture of the cortex of the temporal lobe, which he believed to be divisible into eighteen fields. He attempted, with the help of serial myelin stained sections, to localize the lesions causing various types of sensory aphasia and amusia. Considering the crudeness of the histological method employed, and the fact that in the majority of his cases the lesion which he regarded as responsible for the aphasia was not the only one present, it is not surprising that Kleist’s deductions failed to be generally accepted. He believed that he had succeeded in demonstrating the precise areas of the temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere where the comprehension of speech and of single words was localized. Sensory amusia he believed to be due to a combination of a temporal lobe lesion with damage to Corti’s organs in the inner ear. Although Kleist’s methods and approach are now regarded as obsolete, his clinical observations will continue to be of interest. For this reason the translators deserve gratitude for acquainting English readers with his work. E. STENGEL
FELIX DEUTSCH:
Pp. 106. DM.
Body, 18.
mind and the Sensory
Gateways.
S. Karger,
Basle
and
New
York.
1962
SINCE its earliest days psychosomatic medicine has been energized by contributions from psychoanalysis. Following in this tradition Dr. Deutsch in this volume attempts to define the role played by perceptual data in the determination of psychosomatic symptoms. His approach is based upon psychotherapeutic work with patients and he makes appropriate inferences which help in bridging the gap between ego psychology and neurophysiology. It is hypothesized that during the pre-verbal phase of emotional development a vital part is played by the brainstem reticular formation in organising perception. Three clinical cases are described in detail and it is shown that when certain words with a sensory connotation are used as deliberate stimuli by the interviewer important unconscious material may emerge. Subsequently a single patient suffering from torticollis was interviewed by three different psychiatrists, each employing an actual (non-verbal) olfactory, temperature or visual stimulus. In each interview the examiner was able to achieve rapid entry to conflict-laden areas through the particular sensory gateway which he had chosen. The technique here described is likely to have considerable research significance. It also renders “the leap from psyche to soma” a little less mysterious. A. BALF~UR Sc~atu