Neuropsychological test performance in frontal-lobe epilepsy: the influence of aetiology, seizure type, seizure frequency and duration of disorder.
Although frontal-lobe epilepsy accounts for a sizeable proportion of all partial epilepsies the neuropsychological characteristics have proved difficult to document. A possible explanation for this may lie in the impact of seizure-related variables. However, these have rarely been addressed in a frontal-lobe epilepsy sample. In this report the neuropsychological sequelae of the aetiology of epilepsy, seizure spread, seizure frequency and duration of disorder were examined in a sample of 74 subjects with frontal-lobe epilepsy (42 with left, 32 with right). Only a few significant results were revealed and in these cases the possibility of greater cortical dysfunction rather than specific frontal impairment would offer a viable solution. Further studies are needed in order that firmer conclusions concerning the impact of the variables investigated on neuropsychological performance in a sample of subjects with frontal-lobe epilepsy can be drawn.
Upton
D
D
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, School of Environmental and Human Sciences, Llandaff, UK.
Thompson
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results