Hemispheric lateralization of cognitive functions in children with centrotemporal spikes.

Full 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.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Bedoin, N (N); Herbillon, V (V); Lamoury, I (I); Arthaud-Garde, P (P); Ostrowsky, K (K); De Bellescize, J (J); Kéo Kosal, P (P); Damon, G (G); Rousselle, Ch (Ch);

Affiliation: Laboratoire d'Etude des Mécanismes Cognitifs/Dynamique du Langage, UMR 5596, Université Lyon 2, 5, avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 69676, Bron Cedex, France. nathalie.bedoin(-atsign-)univ-lyon2.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B (Epilepsy Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 9 (issue 2) : pp 268-74

Dates: Created 2006/09/04; Completed 2006/10/18; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16875880, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child
Cognition - physiology
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy, Rolandic - physiopathology; psychology
Functional Laterality - physiology

Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Reaction Time
Visual Fields - physiology

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.