Riva D, Avanzini G, Franceschetti S, Nichelli F, Saletti V, Vago C, Pantaleoni C, D'Arrigo S, Andreucci E, Aggio F, Paruta N, Bulgheroni S. Unilateral frontal lobe epilepsy affects executive functions in children.
Neurol Sci 2005;
26:263-70. [PMID:
16193253 DOI:
10.1007/s10072-005-0469-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2005] [Accepted: 07/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Very few studies to date have investigated the neuropsychological changes detectable in children suffering from frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of FLE on cognitive and executive functions in childhood. The sample includes 17 children with a frontal epileptogenic focus (10 right and 7 left), with no evidence of anatomical brain damage. These subjects were assessed by means of a battery of tests to investigate executive functioning. The results emphasised the presence of selective impairments of frontal lobe functions without evidence of deficits in global intellectual functioning. No side-specific deficits were detected, while an earlier onset of epilepsy and the duration of the disorder, but not the seizures frequency, were found to correspond with more severe deficits in some specific frontal lobe functions.
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