how lack of brain energy impacts behavior

[Guest guest]

I am including some info that I shared with Evan's teachers about the

impact

of

mitochondrial disorders on different areas of the brain. This

information helped me to understand how Evan's lack of energy

impacts his brain functioning and behavior. The basal ganglia, the

frontal lobe, and the temporal

lobe are the three areas of the brain that are

especially

vulnerable. After reading the info,

his teachers really appreciated how important it is for Evan to avoid

fatigue.

1. Problems with the basal ganglia

often present with tremulous, perhaps illegible handwriting, soft

monotone rapid speech, headaches, and/or anxiety.

2. Functions of the frontal lobe that are often impacted include

impulse control and the ability to deal with frustration, decision

making and planning, and maintaining attention to relevant tasks.

3. The temporal lobe is important in language development and

personal

social interaction. Hypergraphia (a tendency toward compulsive and

extensive

writing) has also

been reported in temporal lobe disorders.

P.S. Here are two excerpts from websites on temporal lobe and

frontal

lobe dysfunction that you might find interesting--

"Some of my temporal

lobe patients spend hours and hours writing. One patient, who moved

to another state, used to write me 20 and 30 page letters, detailing

all

of the aspects of her life. As I learned about temporal lobe

hypergraphia

and had her treated with

anticonvulsant medication her letters became more coherent and

were shortened to 2 to 3 page, saying the same information. "

The major role of the frontal

lobes is the regulation of behavior. Deficits in frontal lobe

processing include:

Problems of Starting--This may

manifest as decreased spontaneity and initiation. Such individuals

seem to lack motivation and may sit silently without apparent interest

in or curiosity about surroundings until they are directed to do

something.

Difficulties in Making Mental or

Behavioral Shifts--This includes rigidity or perseveration on a single

idea or a single action. Individuals with these problems may be able

to successfully verbalize solutions to problems, including plans

necessary to meet goals successfully, yet be unable to put any plan

into effective action.

Difficulties with

Attention--Individuals with frontal lobe

deficits are often captured by extraneous aspects of a task. As a

result, they may demonstrate behaviors which seem irrelevant, even

bizarre, to the observer. Because they may be highly distractible,

they often seem to shift focus continually, never arriving at a point

which seems purposeful.

Problems in Stopping--This may

manifest as a more general deficit in self monitoring. It may present

as impulsivity or a quickness to anger or speaking too loudly.

Problems with Social

Awareness--This category would include deficits in the ability to

appreciate the impact one makes on others, sometimes resulting in rude

or insensitive behavior or with a general lack of apparent concern

about social conventions.

Deficient

Self-Awareness--Defective self-criticism may be associated with a

tendency to be self-satisfied, to experience little or no anxiety, and

to fail to appreciate the existence and practical implications of

deficits (limited insight).

A Concrete Attitude--Some patients

with frontal lobe injury retain high-level conceptual abilities

but demonstrate a day-to-day literal-mindedness and loss of perspective.