Language and Emotional Function in Patients With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Language and Emotional Function in Patients With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging
 (DTI) to examine how the brain processes tasks involving language and emotion in normal
 volunteers and in patients with epilepsy. MRI is a diagnostic and research tool that uses a
 strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. The MRI
 scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a magnetic field. During the test, the subject lies
 on a table that can slide in and out of the cylinder. DTI involves taking pictures of the
 brain while the subject is at rest in order to learn about the structure of the brain.
 Information gained from this study will help scientists evaluate the organization of language
 and emotional functions in the brain.

 Normal volunteers and patients with temporal lobe epilepsy 18 years of age and older who are
 native English speakers and who will undergo surgery for uncontrolled seizures may be
 eligible for this study. Candidates are initially screened by telephone, then with physical
 and neurologic examinations and cognitive testing.

 The study has two parts, conducted 6 to 12 months apart. Each part consists of the same sets
 of tests described below, using fMRI and DTI. In patients with epilepsy, Part 1 is scheduled
 before surgery and Part 2 after surgery.

 -  fMRI: Subjects are asked to perform two types of tasks while they undergo fMRI. In one
 task, they are shown pictures of animals and tools and are asked to name them. In a
 second task, they are shown pictures that range in content from sexually explicit
 material, to human injury and surgical slides, to pleasant images of children and
 wildlife and are asked to decide whether they find the pictures pleasant, neutral, or
 unpleasant.

 -  DTI: Subjects relax and remain still in the MRI scanner for about 45 minutes.

 -  Neuropsychological testing: Subjects may be asked to complete questionnaires, take
 pen-and-paper or computerized tests, and perform motor tasks.

 Participants may be asked to repeat the MRI studies, but not the neuropsychological tests, up
 to four times to investigate different brain functions or to confirm findings.
OBJECTIVES: Epilepsy surgery is emerging as a potent therapeutic intervention for a large
 group of patients with uncontrolled temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly when performed early
 in the course of the illness. Seizure freedom is an important goal of seizure surgery, but
 post-operative neuropsychological functioning is another equally important outcome measure.
 Both endpoints require careful pre-operative evaluation of the individual patient and better
 understanding of the functional neuroanatomy of the temporal lobe. In this study fMRI and DTI
 will be performed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and normal volunteers in an attempt
 to

 1. investigate the role of the anterior temporal cortex in semantic processing,

 2. evaluate the role of the amygdala in affective processing,

 3. correlate the extent of white matter pathway resection with cognitive outcome after
 temporal lobectomy.

 STUDY POPULATION: We plan to study 30 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (right-sided,
 left-sided seizure foci) pre and post temporal lobectomy as well as 30 normal volunteers.

 DESIGN: The study will be done in two parts both consisting of identical tasks. For the
 patient group part 1 will be performed prior to temporal lobectomy and part 2, 6-12 months
 after temporal lobectomy. For the normal volunteer group parts 1 and 2 will be performed at
 time interval of 6-12 months.

 During part 1 all study subjects will undergo neuropsychological evaluation. FMRI will be
 performed with two tasks: animal and tool naming (to evaluate semantic processing) and rating
 of emotionally pleasant or unpleasant pictures (to evaluate affective processing). All
 subjects will also undergo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the visualization of white
 matter pathways.

 During part 2 of the study all of the above tests will be repeated.

 FMRI data will be analyzed within the framework of the general linear model in a program such
 as AFNI 2.5. Statistical comparisons between activation patterns in scans acquired during
 part 1 and part 2 within either group (intragroup comparison) will be done by voxel wise
 paired t-test. In a second analysis all 4 groups will be compared in a mixed model. The DTI
 data will be correlated with the neuropsychological outcome to asses the contribution of
 white matter abnormalities pre-operatively or severance of white matter pathways
 post-operative on neuropsychological functioning.

 OUTCOME PARAMETERS: Outcome parameters are changes in the fMRI activation pattern post
 temporal lobectomy and disruption of anisotropy on the diffusion tensor images.
-  INCLUSION CRITERIA:

 Patient Group:

 Temporal lobe epilepsy (right-sided, left-sided foci) with or without lesion on a
 structural MRI scan.

 Native English speaker.

 Age 18 years or older.

 Signed informed consent.

 Volunteer Group:

 Native English speaker.

 Age 18 years or older.

 Signed informed consent.

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

 Patient Group:

 Medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures (e.g. no braces, pacemakers,
 cochlear devices, surgical clips, etc;

 History of mental retardation;

 Pregnancy;

 Claustrophobia;

 Inability to comply with the protocol.

 Volunteer Group:

 Medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures (e.g. no braces, pacemakers,
 cochlear devices, surgical clips, etc.);

 History of neurologic or psychiatric disease or a learning or attention disorder or mental
 retardation.

 Pregnancy.

 Claustrophobia.

 Inability to comply with the protocol.