Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Publication Title

Epilepsia

First Page

1505

Last Page

1516

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.02000.x

Abstract

Purpose:  To investigate whether atypical language dominance in epilepsy patients is related to localization and type of lesions.

Methods:  Four hundred and forty-five epilepsy patients received bilateral Wada testing. Language was classified as left (L), right (R), bilateral-dependent (BD, speech arrest after left and right injections), or bilateral-independent (BI, no speech arrest after either injection). Groups were compared regarding handedness and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions. Lesions were classified as “early” (congenital), “late” neocortical (acquired after birth), and hippocampal sclerosis (HS).

Results:  Of all patients, 78% were L, 6% R, 7% BD, and 9% BI. Right-handers with left lesions did not differ from those without lesions. Left-handers with normal MRI did not differ from right-handers. Left-handers with early left lesions were most likely R (46%). Left-handers with late neocortical left lesions were most likely BD (37%); those with left HS were most likely BD (33%) or L (33%). In both latter groups, R language was rare (13% and 11%, respectively).

Discussion:  The data support the notion that R dominance may indicate development of functional language areas in the right hemisphere following an early insult. BD language may signal defective maintenance of right hemispheric language caused by a late left hemispheric insult at a time when left dominance has already started to develop. In contrast, BI language may represent a variant with functional language representation in both hemispheres.

Rights

‘This is a peer reviewed version of the following article: Moddel, G., Lineweaver, T. T. , Schuele, S. U., Reinholz, J. & Loddenkemper, T. (2009). Atypical Language Lateralization in Epilepsy Patients. Epilepsia, 50, 1505-1516., which has been published in final form at 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.02000.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving'

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