New phenomenon of abnormal auditory perception associated with emotional and head trauma: pathological confirmation by SPECT scan

Brain Lang. 2004 Jun;89(3):503-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2004.01.001.

Abstract

We report the case of an immigrant who suffered from death threats and head trauma while a prisoner of war in Kuwait. Two months later, he began to hear conversations that had taken place previously. These perceptions occurred spontaneously or were induced by the patient's effortful concentration. The single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan performed during this abnormal perceptual experience indicated an increase in regional cerebral blood flow in the left temporal lobe and in the brainstem.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / complications
  • Brain Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Brain Stem / blood supply
  • Hallucinations / diagnostic imaging
  • Hallucinations / etiology*
  • Hallucinations / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Temporal Lobe / blood supply
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Torture / psychology*