Predictors of individual visual memory decline after unilateral anterior temporal lobe resection.
BACKGROUND
Different types of neuropsychological visual memory tasks have been created to quantify deficits associated with right hemisphere dysfunction. There are reports of visual memory impairment after right anterior temporal lobe resection (ATR) compared to left ATR for the processing of faces, abstract designs, and spatial locations, but there are also studies showing no between-group differences. One potential reason for the conflicting results is the use of group mean changes, which mask individual differences.


METHODS
Proportions of individual subjects with decline, no change, or improvement in memory for spatial locations, abstract designs, and unfamiliar faces were evaluated in 83 individuals who underwent a standard ATR (47 right, 36 left) and were left hemisphere language dominant.


RESULTS
Type of visual memory ability was an important factor as there were differential individual declines found for memory for spatial locations after right ATR compared to left ATR (27.3% vs 5.9%), but not memory for abstract designs or face memory. Logistic regression indicated that the odds of a spatial memory decline were six times higher for patients who underwent right ATR than left ATR.


CONCLUSIONS
Memory for spatial locations appears to be particularly vulnerable to decline when a patient undergoes right-anterior temporal lobe resection (ATR) and when the patient has better spatial memory before surgery. Results provide proportions of subjects with significant change to help clinicians and patients make better informed decisions about risks associated with undergoing right ATR.
Dulay
M F
MF
Department of Neurosurgery, The Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mdulay@tmhs.org
Levin
H S
HS
York
M K
MK
Mizrahi
E M
EM
Verma
A
A
Goldsmith
I
I
Grossman
R G
RG
Yoshor
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013028:Space Perception; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D014796:Visual Perception