Impaired recognition of emotion improved by L-DOPA in a patient with amygdala damage

Abstract

We examined the effect of levodopa (L-DOPA) in a patient with a lesion of the amygdala and impaired recognition of emotion. Before L-DOPA, recognition of fear and disgust was significantly impaired compared to recognition scores in controls. After receiving L-DOPA, the patient showed normal recognition of fear and disgust. After the drug wore off, recognition declined to her initial unmedicated performance. We hypothesized that L-DOPA may have activated dopaminergic systems involved in recognition of emotion such as the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, compensating for the amygdala dysfunction. Alternatively, L-DOPA may have activated intact portions of the amygdala.