Article

Hemispheric lateralization of cognitive functions in children with centrotemporal spikes.

Laboratoire d'Etude des Mécanismes Cognitifs/Dynamique du Langage, UMR 5596, Université Lyon 2, 5, avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 69676, Bron Cedex, France.
Epilepsy & Behavior (impact factor: 2.34). 10/2006; 9(2):268-74. DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.06.002 pp.268-74
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT We assessed the impact of unilateral epileptic foci in benign idiopathic partial epilepsy of childhood with rolandic discharges (BECT) on performance and hemispheric specialization in lateralized cognitive functions. Six children with BECT with a left-sided focus (BECT-L), 6 children with BECT with a right-sided focus (BECT-R), and 12 control children were tested in verbal, visual-spatial, and visual-attention tasks, with visual hemifield presentation. Children with BECT-R were impaired in the visual-spatial task relative to those with BECT-L, and the typical left-hemisphere (LH) advantage was not reported in the verbal task in children with BECT-L. Additionally, the classic global superiority effect was lacking in children with BECT-R, which may be due to impaired performance of the right hemisphere specialized in global (vs local)-level processing. These data argue for the deleterious effect of epileptic discharges per se on cognitive functions in the developing brain, and the decisive role of epileptic focus lateralization in specific cognitive impairments and hemispheric specialization.

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    Article: A neuropsychological assessment, using computerized battery tests (CANTAB), in children with benign rolandic epilepsy before AED therapy.
    M A Vinţan, S Palade, A Cristea, I Benga, D F Muresanu
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    ABSTRACT: Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is a form of partial idiopathic epilepsy according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) syndromes classification (1989). Recent studies have identified cases of BRE that do not meet the initial definition of 'benign'; these included reports of cases with specific cognitive deficits. It is still a matter of debate, whether these deficits are due to epilepsy per se, to treatment or other associated factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate if BRE children have cognitive deficits at the onset of their seizures, prior to their participation in any anti-epileptic drug therapy (AED). We performed a neuropsychological assessment of 18 BRE children compared with a corresponding age-matched control group. We used the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Subjects were at their first neurological evaluation, before any AED therapy. We assessed: visual memory, induction and executive functions. In our group, the BRE children performed comparably with the control children for the induction and executive functions. Substantial differences were identified for the visual memory subtests: PRM percent correct (t = -2.58, p = 0.01) and SRM percent correct (t = -2.73, p = 0.01). Age of seizure onset had a negative impact on the visual memory subtest performances (PRM mean correct latency). We found significant correlations between the different CANTAB subtests results and characteristics of the centrotemporal spikes (CTS). Our results are consistent with the findings of other similar studies. This form of epilepsy is associated with subtle neuropsychological deficits, present at seizure onset. Neuropsychological deficits identified, suggest a more diffuse brain involvement in the epileptiform process.
    Journal of medicine and life 02/2012; 5(1):114-9.
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Keywords

12 control children
 
6 children
 
BECT-L
 
benign idiopathic partial epilepsy
 
classic global superiority effect
 
cognitive functions
 
developing brain
 
epileptic discharges
 
epileptic focus lateralization
 
global
 
hemisphere specialized
 
lateralized cognitive functions
 
rolandic discharges
 
se
 
specific cognitive impairments
 
typical left-hemisphere
 
unilateral epileptic foci
 
verbal task
 
visual hemifield presentation
 
visual-attention tasks
 

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