Presurgical assessment of memory-related brain structures: the Wada test and functional neuroimaging

• Published in: Seizure Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 346 - 358
• Main Authors: AKANUMA, NOZOMI, KOUTROUMANIDIS, MICHAEL, ADACHI, NAOTO, ALARCÓN, GONZALO, BINNIE, COLIN D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2003; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiopathology; Brain - surgery; Clinical Neurology; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - diagnostic imaging; Epilepsy - physiopathology; Epilepsy - surgery; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology; Frontal Lobe; Frontal Lobe - surgery; Functional Laterality; functional magnetic resonance imaging; functional neuroimaging; Humans; intracarotid amobarbital procedure; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; memory; Memory Disorders; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Neurology; Neuronal Plasticity; Neuropsychological Tests; positron emission tomography; Preoperative Care; Preoperative Care - methods; Prognosis; Seizures; Seizures - physiopathology; Temporal Lobe; Temporal Lobe - surgery; temporal lobe epilepsy; Tomography, Emission-Computed; Wada test; epilepsy surgery; temporal lobe epilepsy; memory; intracarotid amobarbital procedure; Wada test; functional neuroimaging; positron emission tomography; functional magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 1059-1311; 1532-2688
• DOI: 10.1016/S1059-1311(02)00323-0

Medial temporal lobe structures are known to play a major role in memory processing. Recent work has revealed that extratemporal structures (e.g. the frontal lobe and thalamus) may also be important in memory function. In candidates for epilepsy surgery, particularly in those with temporal lobe seizures, presurgical evaluation of memory function is essential, since seizures may originate in the neural substrate that is critical for memory. In this article, we review the tools used for presurgical evaluation and their contribution to the understanding of memory function, focusing on the Wada test, [ 18 F ]fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography ([ 18 F ]FDG-PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We also explore perspectives on future studies that may elucidate the role of the temporal and extratemporal structures in memory function and the mechanisms of cerebral plasticity.