title: Route learning performance: is it a hippocampus function?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), about 30% of the patients do not achieve adequate pharmacologic control of refractory crises, and surgery becomes an alternative. In ablative interventions, neuropsychologic testing of memory is a crucial step. However, evaluations of the right hippocampal functions have not been consistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the hippocampal function in remote orientation and visuospatial memory in patients with refractory temporal epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled study of patients with left (LTLE) or right (RTLE) TLE. The subjects were submitted to a neuropsychologic evaluation through the Route Learning Test and the Childhood Home Test in the preoperative period. The statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis, analysis of variance, χ, and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in performance in the remote visuospatial memory (as measured by the Childhood Home Test) across the groups (LTLE, RTLE, and control). Concerning the spatial orientation memory, however, there was a significant difference between the LTLE and controls as compared with the RTLE group (P<0.001), the latter showing a poorer performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that spatial orientation memory relies on the integrity of the right hippocampus. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. adrianapereira@pop.com.br
authors.forename: Adriana Gutterres
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Mirna Wetters
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Portuguez
authors.forename: Danielle Irigoyen
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Luciana Schermann
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Azambuja
authors.forename: Sabine Possa
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Marroni
authors.forename: Jaderson Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Arthur Azambuja
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pereira-Filho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery