The Application of Functional MRI of Memory in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy : A Clinical Review

• Published in: Epilepsia (Copenhagen) Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 855 - 863
• Main Authors: Robert Powell, H. W., J. Koepp, Matthias, Richardson, Mark P., Symms, Mark R., Thompson, Pam J., Duncan, John S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 350 Main Street , Malden , MA 02148 , USA and 9600 Garsington Road , Oxford , OX4 2XG , England Blackwell Science Inc 01.07.2004; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain Mapping; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - diagnosis; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - psychology; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - surgery; Functional Laterality - physiology; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical sciences; Memory - physiology; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - prevention & control; Memory Disorders - psychology; Memory processing; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Preoperative Care - methods; Temporal Lobe - physiology; Temporal Lobe - surgery; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Nervous system diseases; Memory; Central nervous system disease; Complex partial epilepsy; Temporal lobe epilepsy- Functional magnetic resonance imaging-Memory processing; Medical imagery; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0013-9580; 1528-1167
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0013-9580.2004.41603.x

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a useful tool for noninvasively localizing areas in the brain involved in specific cognitive functions. Since its introduction, there has been considerable speculation regarding the role it may play in the presurgical assessment of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). This review considers the progress made to date in using fMRI to investigate memory processing in the medial temporal lobe in normal subjects and in those with TLE. Results so far suggest that fMRI will be incorporated into the presurgical assessment of TLE in the coming years to improve definition of eloquent cerebral areas, with the objective of minimizing the adverse cognitive sequelae of anterior temporal lobe resection.