Obsessive, prolific artistic output following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Abstract

The emergence of artistic skills in the context of brain damage has been documented in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).1 In this report, we describe an artist whose skills emerged following a sudden-onset brain injury without any associated dementia or impaired verbal abilities. This may represent a window into an alternative mechanism of artistic creativity to that illustrated by patients with FTD. A 51-year-old right-handed man was admitted to the hospital (January 2001) with a sudden onset of severe headache. Brain CT on admission showed blood in the anterior parts of the basal cisterns. Angiography demonstrated bilateral middle cerebral artery aneurysms, their irregularity suggested that they were the cause of the hemorrhage. A CT taken 16 days after admission demonstrated no evidence of focal injury. Our patient worked as a builder and reports that he had a fiery temper and aggressive personality. At no point was he involved with or interested in the creative arts. Following the subarachnoid hemorrhage he presented with severe depression and complained of a “split-mind disorder.” He also claims to have had difficulty in shaving the left side of his face and his very early drawings show some signs of left hemispatial neglect (figure, A …

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