title: Patterns of verbal learning and memory in children with intractable temporal lobe or frontal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to provide a better understanding of the verbal learning and memory (VLM) patterns that might differentiate children with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) from children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and to examine the impact of variables thought to influence outcomes (seizure laterality, age at seizure onset, age at assessment, epilepsy duration, number of antiepileptic drugs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analyses were carried out for children with intractable unilateral TLE (n=100) and FLE (n=27) who completed standardized measures of VLM entailing lists of single words or lists of word pairs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean intelligent quotients and VLM scores on single words fell within the average range for both groups, whereas scores fell within the low average to borderline range on word pairs. No significant overall differences in VLM were found between the group with TLE and the group with FLE. Older age at assessment and older age at seizure onset were generally associated with better VLM in both groups but were related to better performance in a number of indices in the group with TLE and only fewer intrusions in the group with FLE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VLM profiles of children with TLE and FLE are generally similar. Older age at assessment and older age at seizure onset have a favorable impact on both groups but are related to better encoding, retrieval, and monitoring processes for the group with TLE and improved memory monitoring (i.e., as indicated by fewer intrusions) in the group with FLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada. Electronic address: marylou.smith@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures; D013702:Temporal Lobe; D014706:Verbal Learning
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Frontal lobe epilepsy; Memory; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Verbal learning