Neurosurgeons discover that laughter calms some patients when waking up a brain surgery

American neuroscientists at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered a link between brain which, when electrically stimulated, causes a immediate laugh, followed by a feeling of calm and happiness even during a brain operation wake up.

The effects of stimulation were observed in an epileptic patient undergoing surveillance for the diagnosis of seizures. Then these effects were used to complete a brain operation with the patient awake two days later. The effects of electrical stimulation Direct on a stretch of white matter in the brain, have been confirmed in two other patients with epilepsy.

The results are detailed in an article published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Emory neurosurgeons see technique as a way "potentially transformative"to calm some patients during awake brain surgery, even for people who are not particularly anxious.

For optimal protection of critical brain functions during surgery, it is possible that patients "they should be awake and not sedated", So that doctors can discuss with them, badess their language skills and detect alterations that may result from resection.

"Even well-prepared patients may panic during surgery upon waking, which can be dangerous," says lead author Kelly Bijanki, an badistant professor of neurosurgery. "This particular patient was particularly inclined to this because of his anxiety. And when he woke up from the global anesthesia, he started to panic. When we activated brain stimulation, he immediately told us that she felt happy and relaxed, He told jokes about his family and was able to tolerate the success of the procedure, "said the professional.

Other possible future applications

Out of use during a waking operation, an understanding of how this procedure works could also inform on efforts to better treat depression, anxiety disorders or chronic pain by deep brain stimulation.

The researchers conclude that stimulation is potentially applicable to brain tumor surgery, as well as to l & # 39; epilepsy.