Understanding the Neuroanatomical Basis of Executive Dysfunction in Medically Refractory Temporal Epilepsy
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between prefrontal cortex (PFC) volume and hippocampal sclerosis, and the extent to which each relates to executive functioning (EF) deficits in individuals with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Refractory TLE is one of the more common forms of epilepsy, and individuals with refractory TLE are at high risk for cognitive deficits. While memory impairments are common, individuals with refractory TLE often show deficits in a wide range of cognitive domains. The hippocampal and nociferous cortex hypotheses were tested to clarify the extent to which EF deficits are related to hippocampal sclerosis, reduced bilateral PFC volume, or some combination of the two. MRI and neuropsychological test data from 38 patients preparing for epilepsy surgery were analysed. Patients showed impairment on a composite measure of EF. There was no relationship between bilateral PFC volume, hippocampal volume ipsilateral to seizure onset, and any of the neurocognitive tests.
Author: Reagan Gale
Institution: University of Windsor
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2152639868