Utilization behavior: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:52, 23 September 2011

Revision as of 18:15, 24 October 2011

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The [[frontal lobe]] is responsible for problem solving, motor function, memory, judgment, impulse control, and social behavior. It is also needed for goal-directed behavior. Patients with [[frontal lobe injury]] may have problems in the selection, production, and organization of goal-directed behavior.<ref name="Archibald"/>

One category of frontal lobe damage is the exhibition of behaviors that may not be usually displayed. This is the category that involves behaviors such as [[#Related Disordersdisorders|manual grasping and groping]], [[#Related Disordersdisorders|imitation behavior]] and utilization behavior. The rest of this article will be discussing the latter, utilization behavior.

====Lhermitte (1983)====

Lhermitte first coined the term utilization behavior. He observed six patients with [[unilateral]] and [[wikt:bilateral|bilateral]] lesions in the frontal lobe while the patients were enticed to grab objects. The patients with the frontal lobe lesions grasped the objects and started to use them appropriately even if it was not the appropriate time. Lhermitte used this study to attribute UB to damage of the orbital frontal structures and the [[caudate nuclei]].<ref name="Lhermitte">Lhermitte, F. (1983). Utilization behavior and its relation to lesions of the frontal lobes. Brain 106: 237–255.</ref> It should be noted that [[#Related Disordersdisorders|imitation behavior]] (IB) has been studied by Lhermitte et al. in conjunction with UB which showed an imbalance between the dependence on and independence from external stimuli. It was thought that UB was an imbalance the frontal and [[parietal lobes]], but the study demonstrated that only damage to the frontal lobe affects UB as patients with damage to both areas did not demonstrate UB or IB.<ref name="Lhermitte"/>

====Shallice et al. (1989)====

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Imitation behavior (IB) is another behavior established by Lhermitte (1983) and it explains a patient's replication of the examiners movements.<ref name="Archibald"/> This may be seen if for example, the experimenter claps his hands and yawns, the patient would do the same in the same order. The behavior is still present even when the patient is told not to follow the actions of the experimenter resulting in the belief that a patient with IB cannot stop the involuntary response.<ref name="Archibald"/> IB is important in the development of children but if it is present in adulthood, it is an abnormality.

==See also==

*[[Impulse control disorder]]