Neuropsychological test performance in frontal-lobe epilepsy: the influence of aetiology, seizure type, seizure frequency and duration of disorder

Seizure. 1997 Dec;6(6):443-7. doi: 10.1016/s1059-1311(97)80018-0.

Abstract

Although frontal-lobe epilepsy accounts for a sizeable proportion of all partial epilepsies the neuropsychological characteristics have proved difficult to document. A possible explanation for this may lie in the impact of seizure-related variables. However, these have rarely been addressed in a frontal-lobe epilepsy sample. In this report the neuropsychological sequelae of the aetiology of epilepsy, seizure spread, seizure frequency and duration of disorder were examined in a sample of 74 subjects with frontal-lobe epilepsy (42 with left, 32 with right). Only a few significant results were revealed and in these cases the possibility of greater cortical dysfunction rather than specific frontal impairment would offer a viable solution. Further studies are needed in order that firmer conclusions concerning the impact of the variables investigated on neuropsychological performance in a sample of subjects with frontal-lobe epilepsy can be drawn.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / etiology
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / etiology
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / psychology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results