Effect of Wada memory stimulus type in discriminating lateralized temporal lobe impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of memory stimulus type on Wada memory performance.


METHODS
Ninety-six patients (left, 47; right, 49) from four epilepsy centers who were candidates for anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) and who have subsequently undergone surgery were studied. Patients with atypical cerebral language lateralization or with evidence on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to suggest a lesion other than hippocampal sclerosis were excluded. Wada memory performance was obtained by using both real objects and line drawings as memory stimuli.


RESULTS
Wada memory laterality scores with either real objects or line drawings as memory stimuli discriminated left from right-ATL groups. However, objects were superior to line drawings in making this differentiation. Further, objects were superior to line drawings in individual patient classification of candidates for left ATL, with no difference in the classification rates using either objects or line drawings in candidates for right ATL.


CONCLUSIONS
Type of memory stimuli is an important factor affecting memory results during the Wada test.
Loring
D W
DW
Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-3275, USA.
Hermann
B P
BP
Perrine
K
K
Plenger
P M
PM
Lee
G P
GP
Meador
K J
KJ
D000654:Amobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008722:Methods; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology
D000654:Amobarbital