Visual and Auditory Hallucinations

Question 1

Epilepsy 1 (VH)

Answer 1

Simple hallucination after seizure. Occipital lesion. Anti-epileptic treatment = complex VH. EEG = slowing in both occipital lobes

Question 2

Epilepsy 2 (VH)

Answer 2

During VH in LVF = reduced activity in R posterior hemisphere and greater in R occipital lobe. Dense L hemianopia. VH improved with improved hemianopia.

Question 3

Cortical release hypothesis

Answer 3

Visual system activated as nothing suppressing it

Question 4

Dierks et al

Answer 4

fMRI AH = activation of Heschl’s gyrus (primary auditory cortex). Only activated with external source of AH.

Question 5

Poulet et al

Answer 5

Schizophrenia with AH. TMS over L temporo-parietal cortex = ~50% improved

Question 6

Chibbaro et al

Answer 6

Change in AH and positive symptom score. Real L temporal lobe stimulation = greater improvement (more than placebo)

Question 7

Naccache et al

Answer 7

Peripheral deafness. Hallucinosis, familiar songs. SPECT = NO increase in primary auditory cortex activity (because hallucinosis?) SO further up in pathway?

Question 8

Charles Bonnet syndrome

Answer 8

VH with insight. Support for cortical release hypothesis.

Question 9

Furuya et al

Answer 9

VH (hallucinosis). Balint syndrome = can’t move eyes. Occipital and mild L temporal cortical atrophy. Higher up NOT primary visual cortex.