Memory reorganization in adult brain: observations in three patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Epilepsy Res. 2002 Feb;48(3):229-34. doi: 10.1016/s0920-1211(01)00333-3.

Abstract

We present three patients with left-sided temporal lobe epilepsy who exhibited preoperatively a neuropsychological pattern characteristic for interhemispheric language transfer (marked nonverbal memory deficits, relatively preserved verbal memory and language performance). The Wada test indicated atypical language dominance in two patients, but one patient was clearly left hemispheric language dominant. All patients showed a marked recovery of nonverbal memory after left-sided surgery. Results are discussed with respect to memory transfer and plasticity for memory functions in the adult brain.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain / surgery
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Memory Disorders / surgery
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology