The new Maudsley series of temporal lobectomy. I: Short-term cognitive effects

Verbal and abstract designs paired associate learning after unilateral temporal lobectomy

The combined use of a new abstract designs Paired Associates test with the Verbal Paired Associates test of Form 1 of the Wechsler Memory Scale was investigated with respect to eliciting material specific memory deficits after unilateral temporal lobectomy. Although the verbal test differentiated between the memory ability of these two groups more clearly than the abstract designs test, the effectiveness of looking at the difference between total scores on the two tests was demonstrated. The two tests produced similar levels of performance in control subjects.

Surgical alternatives for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy

Surgical operations for the treatment of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy have been used for well over 40 years and yet there is still controversy about both the clinical situation in which these operations are indicated and their theoretical basis. This brief essay is an attempt to explain and resolve some of these difficulties.

Lateralisation of memory functions in epileptic patients by use of the sodium amytal (Wada) technique

Lateralisation of speech and memory functions was determined in 27 patients, being assessed for surgical treatment of unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy, using the sodium amytal procedure. The most common outcome with regard to language was the retention of normal left hemisphere dominance, regardless of handedness or side of lesion. In contrast, memory functions were most often to be found only in the unaffected hemisphere, also regardless of handedness or side of lesion. A lesion of either hemisphere appeared capable of interfering with language and verbal memory functions in an unexpectedly high proportion of patients.

Relationships between neuropathology and cognitive functioning in temporal lobectomy patients

Cognitive functions were examined before operation and 4 weeks after operation with respect to pathology in 40 patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for epilepsy. Hippocampal sclerosis was associated with febrile convulsions, an earlier onset of regular seizures, poorer preoperative intelligence and with a tendency towards greater cognitive improvement across the operation than found in patients with tumour-like malformations or non-specific pathology. Damage to the amygdala was associated with a poorer outcome for the retention in memory of verbal and non-verbal material. The absence of any specific abnormality in the resected tissue was not associated with a poorer cognitive outcome 4 weeks after the operation.