title: Working Memory Integration Processes in Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is the most frequent focal epilepsy in children; however, the pattern of affected memory processes remains controversial. Previous studies in BECTS imply deficits in complex working memory tasks, but not in simple modality-specific tasks. We studied working memory processes in children with BECTS by comparing performance in memory binding tasks of different complexities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 17 children with BECTS (aged 6 to 13 years) to 17 healthy children matched for age, sex, and intelligence quotient. We measured spatial and verbal memory components separately and jointly on three single-binding tasks (binding of what and where; what and when; and where and when) and a combined-binding task (integration of what, where, and when). We also evaluated basic visuospatial memory functions with subtests of the Children's Memory Scale, and intellectual abilities with verbal tasks of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition and the Raven Progressive Matrices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no difference between the BECTS and control groups in single-binding tasks; however, the children with BECTS performed significantly worse on the combined task, which included integration of spatial, verbal, and temporal information. We found no deficits in their intellectual abilities or basic visuospatial memory functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with BECTS may have intact simple maintenance processes of working memory, but difficulty with high-level functions requiring attentional and executive resources. Our findings imply no specific memory dysfunction in BECTS, but suggest difficulties in integrating information within working memory, and possible frontal lobe disturbances.
authors.affiliation: *Doctoral School of Psychology and †Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary ‡St John Hospital and North-Buda Unified Hospitals, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kárpáti
authors.forename: Nándor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Donauer
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somogyi
authors.forename: Anikó
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kónya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests