/O The Rice Institute Pamphlet
acted as an inhibiting agent in emotional behavior. Since the
hypothalamus was directly connected by nerve fibers with
regions in the frontal lobes, subsequent research on emo-
tional processes focused on the same cortical areas that had
been involved in research on intellectual processes. Some ex-
periments had reported that removal of certain portions of
the frontal lobes did result in hyperexcitability for some
animals. Bard’s (1950) work on cats involving total removal
of the frontal lobes failed to reveal changes in their emo-
tional behavior. However, removal of most of the cortex ex-
cept for certain portions of the frontal lobes resulted in an
exaggerated placidity. When these frontal areas were re-
moved in the placid animals, they displayed the character-
istic sham rage reactions. Bard concluded that the frontal
regions of the cat’s brain "contribute equal excitatory and
inhibitory effects” (1950, p. 217) in their influence on rage
reactions. The particular manner in which these effects are
accomplished is still being studied.
The significance of the research conducted by Cannon &
Bard for understanding the function of the human frontal
lobes is not clear. The stereotyped rage reactions character-
istic of cats do not generalize readily to human behavior. Re-
search on the effects of frontal lobe removal in primates
seemed to contradict the findings of Cannon & Bard. Jacob-
sen (1931, 1935) reported that “no peπnanent emotional
changes were found” (1931, p. 339) in his studies of monkeys
which have already been discussed in connection with intel-
lectual processes. His data did not permit him to decide
whether the frontal lobes might have an inhibitory effect or
whether some change in distractibility could be said to re-
sult from the operations. However, some of Jacobsen’s mon-
keys did show a reduction in temper tantrums and anxiety
behavior under frustrating conditions. When these results
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