Potential role of a cognitive rehabilitation program following left temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

• Main Authors: Camila de Vasconcelos Geraldi, Sara Escorsi-Rosset, Pamela Thompson, Ana C. Gargaro Silva, Américo Ceiki Sakamoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Series: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
• Subjects: epilepsia do lobo temporal; memória; reabilitação neurológica; lobectomia temporal anterior
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2017000600359&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Research into memory and epilepsy has focused on measuring problems and exploring causes with limited attention directed at the role of neuropsychological rehabilitation in alleviating post-operative memory difficulties. Objectives To assess the effects of a memory rehabilitation program in patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy following surgery. Methods Twenty-four patients agreed to participate and 18 completed the study; nine received memory rehabilitation while nine had no input and were designated as controls. Verbal learning efficiency, naming abilities, memory subjective ratings, ecological activity measures and a language fMRI paradigm were used as outcome measures. Results Improved verbal learning and naming test performance, increase in memory strategy use and improved self-perception were observed following the rehabilitation. Changes in fMRI activation patterns were seen in the rehabilitation group over the long term. Conclusion The findings support the potential role of a cognitive rehabilitation program following left temporal lobe surgery.