Reorganization of memory functions after human temporal lobe damage.
Hemispheric (re-)organization of episodic memory functions after temporal lobe damage (TLD) was investigated by the intracarotid amobarbital procedure in patients suffering temporal lobe epilepsy. Memory of the speech-dominant left hemisphere was intact after right-sided TLD independent of the age at manifestation. In contrast, the right hemisphere mediated memory well only after early left-sided TLD. These findings suggest a predisposition of the speech-dominant left hemisphere for the encoding of episodic memory, and indicate that for left-sided TLD the right hemisphere may compensate memory encoding sufficiently only if the damage occurred within a critical period in childhood.
Epilepsie-Zentrum Bethel, Klinik Mara I, Bielefeld, Germany.
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H
Jokeit
A
A
Ebner
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H
Holthausen
H J
HJ
Markowitsch
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I
Tuxhorn
D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*