Post-ictal recognition memory predicts laterality of temporal lobe seizure focus: comparison with post-operative data.
Standardized verbal and visuo-spatial memory recognition were obtained on 15 patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), using a reference group of 43 (12 males, 31 females) subjects with no previous history of neurological disease. Inter-ictal measures on these two tasks failed to differentiate between those patients with left vs right seizure foci. When eight of these patients were tested post-ictally (within 1 hr of seizure), seven showed the expected selective memory impairment when compared to inter-ictal performance. Left TLE patients showed a relative lowering of verbal memory, whereas patients with right TLE showed a relative visuo-spatial memory impairment. A similar result was also found in the patients when a comparison between pre-operative (inter-ictal) and post-operative performance was made, thereby further substantiating the validity of the tasks. This significant association between side of seizure focus and selective impairment of post-ictal memory performance provides evidence of a more direct method of neuropsychological diagnosis in TLE patients prior to surgery.
Department of Neuropsychology, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
D G
DG
Andrewes
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A
Puce
P F
PF
Bladin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001037:Aphasia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011612:Psychosurgery; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*