THE ORBITOMEDIAL FRONTAL SYNDROME

An orbitomedial frontal syndrome is proposed, characterized by anosmia, amnesia with confabulation, Go-NoGo deficits, personality change, and hypersensitivity to pain. The orbitomedial frontal syndrome is distinct from the clinical picture that results from dorsolateral frontal damage. Aspects of orbitomedial damage have been discussed previously in isolation, but we argue that recognition of this syndrome in toto is clinically important. It appears to be associated with poor social and vocational adjustment after brain injury, and the co-occurrence of features of the syndrome provides clues to underlying mechanisms for disinhibition and confabulation in frontal lobe patients.