How having a stroke can affect patients' judgement

Stroke could affect patients' moral compass, altering they way they think about mistakes and people's intentions, a new study has found.

Scientists in Buenos Aires found those victims who suffered a stroke affecting the frontal region of the brain were more likely to forgive, as long as no actual harm was done, Daily Mail reported.

The study concluded the effect on moral judgement was similar to those patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 

It found the stroke patients placed more emphasis on the outcome of a situation, focusing less on what a person's intentions were.

Researchers compared eight patients who had suffered stroke in the frontal region of the brain, and 19 patients believed to be suffered frontotemporal dementia, and an equal number of healthy, control patients.

None of the study participants had been diagnosed with any other psychiatric disorders, neurological diseases or had suffered brain damage.

They were presented four different scenarios.

They involved no intended or actual harm, accidental harm, unsuccessfully-attempted harm, and successfully-attempted harm.

Both those patients who had suffered a stroke or had FTD rated the scenario in which harm was intended but not actually caused as more acceptable, than the control group.

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