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Vestibularapparat und hirnelektrische Aktivität. EEG- und ENG-studien bei gesunden und bei epilepsiekranken
Journal o f the neurological Sciences Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands
499
Book Reviews
Psychology. An Introduction to a Behavioral Science, by H. C. LINDGREN AND D. BYRNE, 3rd edition, xvi + 759 pages, 221 illustrations, 33 tables, Wiley, New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, 1971, £ 5.50. This is one of a number of textbooks now available which have been designed for the type of introductory course in Psychology given at many universities and colleges in the U.S.A. It shares the merits and demerits of most books of its kind. A large number of topics are discussed but most of them are treated at a superficial level. Four pages on the history of psychology (pp. 12-16) may be better than nothing, but four paragraphs on signal detection theory (p. 210) are probably worse than useless. The authors place more emphasis than is usual in an introductory text on how work in psychology may be related to everyday experience. It is perhaps for this reason that a good deal of the book is devoted to problems of personal and social adjustment. The reader may well be left with the impression that firm conclusions can be drawn from the evidence presented, whereas in many cases the interpretation of this evidence is controversial. For example, it is stated (p. 109) that "In general, adults have a greater variety of interests and are attracted to work that is characterized by organisation and cooperation, whereas young people are attracted to activities involving adventure, recreation and military activities". This statement seems to be based on a study of men
Vestibularapparat und hirnelektrische Aktivitdt. EEG- und ENG-Studien bei Gesunden und bei Epilepsiekranken (Aktuelle Probleme in der Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Neurochirurgie, Vol. 6), by K. KARBOWSKI, with an introduction by M. MUMENTHALER, 123 pages, 39 illustrations, 17 tables, Huber, Berne, Stuttgart, Vienna, 1971, Sfr 43.--; DM 39.--. Vestibular reaction to caloric stimulation in normal and epileptic subjects is discussed as measured with simultaneous electronystagmographic and electroencephalographic recording. An interesting historical introduction and a critical survey of existing methods of vestibular examination explain the preference for caloric stimulation over others. Neural relationships, afferent and efferent, between vestibular organ, nuclei, cerebellum, cortical
aged 52 carried out in the U.S.A. in 1969, in which their interests were compared with the interests they remembered having at the age of 16. Whatever this study shows, it is clear that it does not provide evidence on young people's attitudes today. One's confidence in using the book is not increased when one turns to the chapter on "Neural aspects of behavior". Hubel and Wiesel are mentioned but they are credited with the finding that "certain parts of the retina are responsive, for example, only when patterns are oriented in the vertical direction"! (p. 189). There is a profusion of photographs, diagrams and tables, but many of the tables cannot be interpreted without more information on the way in which the data was collected. The photographs are good, aesthetically, but their relevance to the text is often obscure, and many of them seem to have a purely decorative function. A redeeming feature of the book is that the suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter are representative and well chosen. A student merely using the book to gain access to these sources would not go far wrong. The authors have really attempted too much within the covers of a single volume. There are now available as paperbacks many good short introductory texts on specific topics each written by an expert in his own field. The student is much better advised to accumulate a collection of these rather than rely on a single compendium. R. DAVIS and subcortical areas are analysed. The presentation is up to date except for lack of mention of the "reafference principle" of von Hoist and Mittelstaedt (1950) and of adaptation, habituation and "pattern centre" activities as published by the Utrecht school. If these had been taken into account the problem of conscious perception of enforced movement in contrast to unnoticed spontaneous motion would have received better treatment and explanation. After having calibrated his caloric test on 50 normal subjects with regard to ENG, vertigo and EEG, the results on 62 epileptic patients are thoroughly analyzed and compared. In 2/3 of all normal subjects the EEG following caloric stimulation shows initially amplitude reduction of ~-waves, presumably because of activation of the reticular formation; this period is followed by increased
J. neurol. Sci., 1972, 16:499-502
500
BOOK REVIEWS
a-activity. The remaining 1/3 has no response on vestibular stimulation because of a flat EEG or one c.haracterised by fl-waves. A slow evoked potential was never observed, whereas it was a common phenomenon with, other stimuli, visual, acoustic or vibrational. EEG-response to caloric stimulation in epileptics showed in general the same changes as in normals; initially there was amplitude reduction of the a-waves, followed by resynchronisation. In 22 out of 65 patients occurred non-specific or specific epileptic EEG anomalies. In 46 out of 65 patients vestibular disturbances were found, most of which were hyporeactivity and dysrhythmia of nystagmus. About half of the patients had no vertigo during caloric stimulation (6~, in normals). Absent or reduced response might, however, be
caused by drugs (hydantoin derivates more than phenobarbiturates). "'Vestibular epilepsy" was never found. On the whole the EEG response Io vestibular stimulation does not appear to be very spectacular either in normal or in epileptic subjects. The spontaneous or drug-induced suppression of vestibular response in the latter category makes it even less interesting. Although the subject matter on vestibularinduced changes in EEG in normal and epileptic subjects might not be of a highly revealing nature, it is very well treated in this report on a personally conducted investigation, during which serious difficulties of diverse origin were encountered and had to be mastered. J. J. GROEN
Das Hirnstrombild unter Mehratmun9 bei Kindern. Untersuchungen iiber das Bedinoungsyefiige der Hyperventilation und ihren Wert als Provokationsmethode in der klinischen Elektroenzephalographie im Modell einer multivariaten Analyse mittels elektronischer Datenverarbeitung (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift Psychiatrie, Neurologie und Medizinische Psychologie, Heft No. 16), by K. Mf.JLLER, 146 pages, 58 illustrations 8 tables, Hirzel, Leipzig, 1971, M 17.50.
this book is based on information obtained from just over I000 children examined during the 3 years 1963-1965. There is a great deal of detail in relation to appearance, frequency and amplitude of the changes induced in the EEG by hyperventilation while the expiratory CO 2 was measured whenever possible. The author concludes that the respiratory rate, the alveolar CO 2 tension, the blood sugar level and the body weight do not seem to have a great deal of effect on the EEG changes, when standardisation of hyperventilation is achieved. The bibliography is extensive (641 references) but with some important omissions. A large number of tables and diagrams are appended to demonstrate differences between so-called normal hyperventilation (arbitrary) and standardised hyperventilation. Unfortunately there is not one single EEG reproduced in the monograph that might help the reader to understand the basic data upon which the statistical conclusions have been based. G. PAMPIGLIONE
This Monograph has been prepared mostly for people interested in electroencephalography (EEG) and its clinical utilisation in paediatrics. After a general introduction to the EEG the author discusses some of the experimental studies carried out to verify the clinical importance of phenomena induced in the electrical activity of the brain with a variety of "activation" methods (sleep, various auditory, visual, vestibular, and vascular stimuli, as well as the administration of drugs). The study of hyperventilation which forms the main bulk of
Die aktive psyehiatrische Therapie unter Beriicksichtigun9 tierexperimenteller Untersuchunoen (Sammlung zwangloser Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Psychiatric und Neurologie unter besonderer Beriicksichtigung der allgemeinen Medizin und der t~iglichen Praxis), by HELMA SOMMER, 124 pages, 74 illustrations, VEB Fischer, Jena, 1971, M 25.--. The effects of convulsive therapy with cardiazol and electroshock on the brains of rabbits and cats were investigated histopathologically and histochemically. The same methods, including electron-microscopical studies, were employed in the examination of the effects of prolonged chlorpromazine therapy. Convulsive treatment with
cardiazol caused progressive ischaemic damage and necrosis in cortical cells without marked glial proliferation. Electroconvulsive treatment caused acute cortical cell degeneration with proliferation of the glia. Prolonged ingestion of chlorpromazine caused widespread and progressive cellular damage with disturbance of the carbohydrate metabolism. The findings indicate that these treatments activate cerebral metabolism and damage cerebral tissue. The latter effect may cause defects of function which may result in symptomatic improvement. The activation of metabolism may have an effect on the still unknown organic cause of the psychosis. E. STENGEL
d. neurol. Sci.,1972,16:499-502
499
Book Reviews
Psychology. An Introduction to a Behavioral Science, by H. C. LINDGREN AND D. BYRNE, 3rd edition, xvi + 759 pages, 221 illustrations, 33 tables, Wiley, New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, 1971, £ 5.50. This is one of a number of textbooks now available which have been designed for the type of introductory course in Psychology given at many universities and colleges in the U.S.A. It shares the merits and demerits of most books of its kind. A large number of topics are discussed but most of them are treated at a superficial level. Four pages on the history of psychology (pp. 12-16) may be better than nothing, but four paragraphs on signal detection theory (p. 210) are probably worse than useless. The authors place more emphasis than is usual in an introductory text on how work in psychology may be related to everyday experience. It is perhaps for this reason that a good deal of the book is devoted to problems of personal and social adjustment. The reader may well be left with the impression that firm conclusions can be drawn from the evidence presented, whereas in many cases the interpretation of this evidence is controversial. For example, it is stated (p. 109) that "In general, adults have a greater variety of interests and are attracted to work that is characterized by organisation and cooperation, whereas young people are attracted to activities involving adventure, recreation and military activities". This statement seems to be based on a study of men
Vestibularapparat und hirnelektrische Aktivitdt. EEG- und ENG-Studien bei Gesunden und bei Epilepsiekranken (Aktuelle Probleme in der Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Neurochirurgie, Vol. 6), by K. KARBOWSKI, with an introduction by M. MUMENTHALER, 123 pages, 39 illustrations, 17 tables, Huber, Berne, Stuttgart, Vienna, 1971, Sfr 43.--; DM 39.--. Vestibular reaction to caloric stimulation in normal and epileptic subjects is discussed as measured with simultaneous electronystagmographic and electroencephalographic recording. An interesting historical introduction and a critical survey of existing methods of vestibular examination explain the preference for caloric stimulation over others. Neural relationships, afferent and efferent, between vestibular organ, nuclei, cerebellum, cortical
aged 52 carried out in the U.S.A. in 1969, in which their interests were compared with the interests they remembered having at the age of 16. Whatever this study shows, it is clear that it does not provide evidence on young people's attitudes today. One's confidence in using the book is not increased when one turns to the chapter on "Neural aspects of behavior". Hubel and Wiesel are mentioned but they are credited with the finding that "certain parts of the retina are responsive, for example, only when patterns are oriented in the vertical direction"! (p. 189). There is a profusion of photographs, diagrams and tables, but many of the tables cannot be interpreted without more information on the way in which the data was collected. The photographs are good, aesthetically, but their relevance to the text is often obscure, and many of them seem to have a purely decorative function. A redeeming feature of the book is that the suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter are representative and well chosen. A student merely using the book to gain access to these sources would not go far wrong. The authors have really attempted too much within the covers of a single volume. There are now available as paperbacks many good short introductory texts on specific topics each written by an expert in his own field. The student is much better advised to accumulate a collection of these rather than rely on a single compendium. R. DAVIS and subcortical areas are analysed. The presentation is up to date except for lack of mention of the "reafference principle" of von Hoist and Mittelstaedt (1950) and of adaptation, habituation and "pattern centre" activities as published by the Utrecht school. If these had been taken into account the problem of conscious perception of enforced movement in contrast to unnoticed spontaneous motion would have received better treatment and explanation. After having calibrated his caloric test on 50 normal subjects with regard to ENG, vertigo and EEG, the results on 62 epileptic patients are thoroughly analyzed and compared. In 2/3 of all normal subjects the EEG following caloric stimulation shows initially amplitude reduction of ~-waves, presumably because of activation of the reticular formation; this period is followed by increased
J. neurol. Sci., 1972, 16:499-502
500
BOOK REVIEWS
a-activity. The remaining 1/3 has no response on vestibular stimulation because of a flat EEG or one c.haracterised by fl-waves. A slow evoked potential was never observed, whereas it was a common phenomenon with, other stimuli, visual, acoustic or vibrational. EEG-response to caloric stimulation in epileptics showed in general the same changes as in normals; initially there was amplitude reduction of the a-waves, followed by resynchronisation. In 22 out of 65 patients occurred non-specific or specific epileptic EEG anomalies. In 46 out of 65 patients vestibular disturbances were found, most of which were hyporeactivity and dysrhythmia of nystagmus. About half of the patients had no vertigo during caloric stimulation (6~, in normals). Absent or reduced response might, however, be
caused by drugs (hydantoin derivates more than phenobarbiturates). "'Vestibular epilepsy" was never found. On the whole the EEG response Io vestibular stimulation does not appear to be very spectacular either in normal or in epileptic subjects. The spontaneous or drug-induced suppression of vestibular response in the latter category makes it even less interesting. Although the subject matter on vestibularinduced changes in EEG in normal and epileptic subjects might not be of a highly revealing nature, it is very well treated in this report on a personally conducted investigation, during which serious difficulties of diverse origin were encountered and had to be mastered. J. J. GROEN
Das Hirnstrombild unter Mehratmun9 bei Kindern. Untersuchungen iiber das Bedinoungsyefiige der Hyperventilation und ihren Wert als Provokationsmethode in der klinischen Elektroenzephalographie im Modell einer multivariaten Analyse mittels elektronischer Datenverarbeitung (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift Psychiatrie, Neurologie und Medizinische Psychologie, Heft No. 16), by K. Mf.JLLER, 146 pages, 58 illustrations 8 tables, Hirzel, Leipzig, 1971, M 17.50.
this book is based on information obtained from just over I000 children examined during the 3 years 1963-1965. There is a great deal of detail in relation to appearance, frequency and amplitude of the changes induced in the EEG by hyperventilation while the expiratory CO 2 was measured whenever possible. The author concludes that the respiratory rate, the alveolar CO 2 tension, the blood sugar level and the body weight do not seem to have a great deal of effect on the EEG changes, when standardisation of hyperventilation is achieved. The bibliography is extensive (641 references) but with some important omissions. A large number of tables and diagrams are appended to demonstrate differences between so-called normal hyperventilation (arbitrary) and standardised hyperventilation. Unfortunately there is not one single EEG reproduced in the monograph that might help the reader to understand the basic data upon which the statistical conclusions have been based. G. PAMPIGLIONE
This Monograph has been prepared mostly for people interested in electroencephalography (EEG) and its clinical utilisation in paediatrics. After a general introduction to the EEG the author discusses some of the experimental studies carried out to verify the clinical importance of phenomena induced in the electrical activity of the brain with a variety of "activation" methods (sleep, various auditory, visual, vestibular, and vascular stimuli, as well as the administration of drugs). The study of hyperventilation which forms the main bulk of
Die aktive psyehiatrische Therapie unter Beriicksichtigun9 tierexperimenteller Untersuchunoen (Sammlung zwangloser Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Psychiatric und Neurologie unter besonderer Beriicksichtigung der allgemeinen Medizin und der t~iglichen Praxis), by HELMA SOMMER, 124 pages, 74 illustrations, VEB Fischer, Jena, 1971, M 25.--. The effects of convulsive therapy with cardiazol and electroshock on the brains of rabbits and cats were investigated histopathologically and histochemically. The same methods, including electron-microscopical studies, were employed in the examination of the effects of prolonged chlorpromazine therapy. Convulsive treatment with
cardiazol caused progressive ischaemic damage and necrosis in cortical cells without marked glial proliferation. Electroconvulsive treatment caused acute cortical cell degeneration with proliferation of the glia. Prolonged ingestion of chlorpromazine caused widespread and progressive cellular damage with disturbance of the carbohydrate metabolism. The findings indicate that these treatments activate cerebral metabolism and damage cerebral tissue. The latter effect may cause defects of function which may result in symptomatic improvement. The activation of metabolism may have an effect on the still unknown organic cause of the psychosis. E. STENGEL
d. neurol. Sci.,1972,16:499-502