Hemispheric Asymmetries in Manic-Depressive Patients: Relationship to Hemispheric Processing of Affect.

Reviews research on hemispheric asymmetries in the performance and physiology of manic-depressive patients and asymmetries in processing of affective stimuli. It is concluded that there is substantial evidence of (1) right-sided abnormalities and right-sided hyperarousal in affective illness, (2) a unique right hemisphere involvement in processing of affective stimuli, and (3) left-sided hemispheric specialization for positive affect and right-sided specialization for negative affect. These conclusions are considered in relation to each other, with a view toward integrating the evidence and suggesting avenues for further research. (56 ref)