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Neuropsychological Assessment for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Marilyn Jones-Gotman ,
Michael C.S. Harnadek  and
Cynthia S. Kubu
Marilyn Jones-Gotman
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropsychology, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec
Michael C.S. Harnadek
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, London Health Science Centre, University Campus, London, Ontario
Cynthia S. Kubu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, London Health Science Centre, University Campus, London, Ontario
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Abstract

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Neuropsychological assessment consists of a comprehensive evaluation of cognitive functioning and most often some evaluation of motor skills and sensory status also. Cognitive functions sampled typically include “intelligence” (IQ tests), attention, language skills, visuospatial abilities, “executive skills” and other abilities associated with frontal-lobe function, and learning and memory. Thus, the assessment samples vary widely among a variety of functions, providing a comprehensive picture of an individual's strengths and weaknesses. The resulting pattern points to the probable site of epileptic focus. Neuropsychological findings also serve to predict the risk for postsurgical cognitive decline and, when performance before and after operation is compared, they provide data on the impact of surgery upon cognitive functioning. Comprehensive evaluation of learning and memory is particularly important in this context, because of the frequency of temporal lobe epilepsy and the prominence of memory dysfunction associated with it. In addition, patients slated for elective surgery may also undergo an intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP), which is performed to determine the side of cerebral dominance for language and to test the memory capabilities of each hemisphere alone. All of these specialized neuropsychological tools are discussed in this paper.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 27 , Issue S1: Canadian Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery Workshop , May 2000 , pp. S39 - S43
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

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