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Abstract
Several lines of inquiry provide converging evidence for a critical role for the right
cerebral hemisphere in negative affective experiences. This research includes the
assessment of affective consequences of both focal cerebral lesions and pharmacological
inactivation of one or the other hemisphere, as well as experimental and physiological
techniques assessing differential hemispheric activation. The specific nature of right
hemispheric involvement is conceptualized as a tendency to become activated by aversive
experiences, and once activated, to process stimuli in a manner consistent with the
right hemisphere's more negative affective tone. A theory of right hemisphere involvement
in depressive affect is presented in detail and its relevance to clinical phenomena,
e.g., the co-occurrence of depression and pain, and sex differences in depression,
is examined, as is congruence with cognitive theories of depression.
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
February 11,
1987
Received:
November 25,
1986
Identification
Copyright
© 1987 Published by Elsevier Inc.
