Asymmetrical effects of unilateral cortical suction lesions: behavioral characterization.

Behavioral effects of unilateral frontocortical suction lesions in the right and left hemisphere were characterized by a computerized activity monitoring system. Lesions of the right frontal cortex produced postoperative hyperactivity consisting of increases in the total distance traveled, average distance per movement, and average speed of movement. Vertical, rotational, and stereotypic measures were not changed. Animals receiving left hemisphere lesions did not differ from sham-operated controls on any behavioral variable. The lateralized hyperactivity resulting from lesions of the right frontal cortex was confined to increased length and speed of horizontal movement and did not appear to represent a generalized increase in all components of spontaneous activity.