Stimulus type affects Wada memory performance.
The effects of amytal injection side, seizure focus laterality, and stimulus type (real and line-drawn objects, printed words, and faces) on recognition memory were studied during the Wada procedure. To-be-remembered stimuli were presented during cerebral anesthesia to 35 patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy (LTLE) and 28 patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy (RTLE), all with left hemisphere language dominance. In both groups, recognition of real and line-drawn objects was best after anesthetization of the lesional hemisphere. Recognition of faces was poor after either injection in patients with RTLE, but only after right injection in patients with LTLE. Conversely, recognition of words by patients with LTLE was impaired equally after either injection, but more so after left than right injection in patients with RTLE. The findings suggest that (1) real and line-drawn objects are "dually encoded" and memory accuracy depends on seizure focus laterality, and (2) accuracy in recognition of words and faces is related to seizure focus laterality, but may also depend on the language dominance of the hemisphere being assessed.
Testa
S Marc
SM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Medical Psychology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer 218, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Ward
Julianna
J
Crone
Nathan E
NE
Brandt
Jason
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000654:Amobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000654:Amobarbital