title: Memory performance on the California Verbal Learning Test of children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.
abstract: Verbal learning and retrieval, as well as the use of learning strategies, were assessed in 24 children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) and 16 controls, using the California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version. Neuropsychological data were correlated with EEG features. Compared with age-matched controls, the children with BECTS younger than 10 exhibited significant learning difficulties and were less efficient in using a semantic clustering strategy, whereas no such difference emerged for subjects older than 10. This suggests that the capacity for spontaneous use of a more efficient strategy matures later in children with BECTS. Moreover, the majority of those younger than 10 had multifocal anomalies, suggesting that the difficulties encountered might be caused by the presence of additional foci.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Division, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vago
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulgheroni
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschetti
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usilla
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*