Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 14, Issue 03  


Differential neuropsychological test sensitivity to left temporal lobe epilepsy

DAVID W.  LORING  a1 a2 c1 , ESTHER  STRAUSS  a3 , BRUCE P.  HERMANN  a4 , WILLIAM B.  BARR  a5 , KENNETH  PERRINE  a6 , MAX R.  TRENERRY  a7 , GORDON  CHELUNE  a8 , MICHAEL  WESTERVELD  a9 , GREGORY P.  LEE  a10 , KIMFORD J.  MEADOR  a1 and STEPHEN C.  BOWDEN  a11
a1 Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
a2 Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
a3 Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
a4 Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
a5 Department of Neurology, New York University, New York, New York
a6 Department of Psychology, Long Island Jewish Hospital, Manhasset, New York
a7 Department of Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
a8 Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
a9 Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
a10 Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
a11 Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Article author query
loring dw   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
strauss e   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
hermann bp   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
barr wb   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
perrine k   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
trenerry mr   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
chelune g   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
westerveld m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
lee gp   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
meador kj   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
bowden sc   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

We examined the sensitivity of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Multilingual Aphasia Examination Visual Naming subtest (MAE VN) to lateralized temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in patients who subsequently underwent anterior temporal lobectomy. For the AVLT (n = 189), left TLE patients performed more poorly than their right TLE counterparts [left TLE = 42.9 (10.6), right TLE = 47.7 (9.9); p < .002 (Cohen's d = .47)]. Although statistically significant, the CVLT group difference (n = 212) was of a smaller magnitude [left LTE = 40.7 (11.1), right TLE = 43.8 (9.9); (p < .03, Cohen's d = .29)] than the AVLT. Group differences were also present for both measures of confrontation naming ability [BNT: left LTE = 43.1 (8.9), right TLE = 48.1 (8.9); p < .001 (Cohen's d = .56); MAE VN: left TLE = 42.2, right TLE = 45.6, p = .02 (Cohen's d = .36)]. When these data were modeled in independent logistic regression analyses, the AVLT and BNT both significantly predicted side of seizure focus, although the positive likelihood ratios were modest. In the subset of 108 patients receiving both BNT and AVLT, the AVLT was the only significant predictor of seizure laterality, suggesting individual patient variability regarding whether naming or memory testing may be more sensitive to lateralized TLE. (JINS, 2008, 14, 394–400.)

(Received June 5 2007)
(Revised January 17 2008)
(Accepted January 17 2008)


Key Words: Memory; Naming; Neuropsychology; Epilepsy surgery; Anterior temporal lobectomy; Logistic models.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence and reprint requests to: David W. Loring, Ph.D., McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 100236, Gainesville, FL 32610. E-mail: david.loring@neurology.ufl.edu

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