The Experts below are selected from a list of 321 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Pamela J. Thompson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Frontal Lobe function in temporal Lobe epilepsy
Epilepsy Research, 2012Co-Authors: J Stretton, Pamela J. ThompsonAbstract:Temporal Lobe epilepsy (TLE) is typically associated with long-term memory dysfunction. The Frontal Lobes support high-level cognition comprising executive skills and working memory that is vital for daily life functioning. Deficits in these functions have been increasingly reported in TLE. Evidence from both the neuropsychological and neuroimaging literature suggests both executive function and working memory are compromised in the presence of TLE. In relation to executive impairment, particular focus has been paid to set shifting as measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. Other discrete executive functions such as decision-making and theory of mind also appear vulnerable but have received little attention. With regard to working memory, the medial temporal Lobe structures appear have a more critical role, but with emerging evidence of hippocampal dependent and independent processes. The relative role of underlying pathology and seizure spread is likely to have considerable bearing upon the cognitive phenotype and trajectory in TLE. The identification of the nature of Frontal Lobe dysfunction in TLE thus has important clinical implications for prognosis and surgical management. Longitudinal neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies assessing Frontal Lobe function in TLE patients pre- and postoperatively will improve our understanding further.
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Memory in Frontal Lobe epilepsy.
Epilepsy research, 2010Co-Authors: M Centeno, Pamela J. Thompson, Christoph Helmstaedter, M J Koepp, J S DuncanAbstract:In contrast to the well studied long-term memory dysfunction of temporal Lobe epilepsy (TLE) syndromes, data on memory performance of Frontal Lobe epilepsy (FLE) patients are limited and controversial. Behavioural and functional neuroimaging findings suggest that different regions within the Frontal Lobes contribute to long-term memory functioning, offering an explanation for the variability on memory function observed on patients with Frontal Lobe damage. Available evidence suggests memory dysfunction is a common finding on neuropsychological evaluation of FLE patients but prevalence and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Variability on memory performance reported in FLE studies suggest this deficit may be dependant on the areas involved in seizure generation and spread. Recent research findings and the application of cognitive fMRI paradigms to FLE patients holds the promise of increasing understanding further.
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General neuropsychological characteristics of Frontal Lobe epilepsy
Epilepsy Research, 1996Co-Authors: Dominic Upton, Pamela J. ThompsonAbstract:The neurpsychological characteristics of Frontal Lobe epilepsy have rarely been reported, with neuropsychological indicators usually being related to subjects with other forms of neurological damage. In this study we assessed the performance of 74 subjects with Frontal Lobe epilepsy (42 with left, 32 with right Frontal epileptic foci) on a series of measures thought to be sensitive to Frontal Lobe dysfunction and compared to 57 subjects with temporal Lobe epilepsy (31 with left, 26 with right epileptic foci). The results indicated a number of measures that could be considered sensitive to Frontal Lobe epileptic dysfunction. However, the pattern of results did not indicate consistent deficits to be associated with Frontal Lobe epileptic dysfunction. There are a number of unique factors associated with epilepsy that need to be considered, and these may account for the variable pattern of results obtained. In particular, the rapid propagation of Frontal Lobe seizures both bilaterally and to other cortical regions has to be considered.
Paolo Tinuper - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 2014Co-Authors: Lino Nobili, Paola Proserpio, Romina Combi, Federica Provini, Giuseppe Plazzi, Francesca Bisulli, Laura Tassi, Paolo TinuperAbstract:Nocturnal Frontal Lobe epilepsy (NFLE) is a syndrome of heterogeneous etiology, characterized by the occurrence of sleep-related seizures with different complexity and duration. Genetic, lesional, and cryptogenetic NFLE forms have been described. NFLE is generally considered a benign clinical entity, although severe, drug-resistant forms do exist. A significant proportion of sleep-related complex motor seizures, hardly distinguishable from NFLE, originate outside the Frontal Lobe. Moreover, the distinction of NFLE from the non-rapid eye movement arousal parasomnias may be challenging. A correct diagnosis of NFLE should be based on a diagnostic approach that includes the anamnestic, video–polysomnographic, morphological, and genetic aspects. Studies on the relationships between genes, arousal regulatory mechanisms, and epileptogenesis, using both clinical and experimental models of NFLE might provide key insights in the interrelationship between sleep and epilepsy.
J S Duncan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Memory in Frontal Lobe epilepsy.
Epilepsy research, 2010Co-Authors: M Centeno, Pamela J. Thompson, Christoph Helmstaedter, M J Koepp, J S DuncanAbstract:In contrast to the well studied long-term memory dysfunction of temporal Lobe epilepsy (TLE) syndromes, data on memory performance of Frontal Lobe epilepsy (FLE) patients are limited and controversial. Behavioural and functional neuroimaging findings suggest that different regions within the Frontal Lobes contribute to long-term memory functioning, offering an explanation for the variability on memory function observed on patients with Frontal Lobe damage. Available evidence suggests memory dysfunction is a common finding on neuropsychological evaluation of FLE patients but prevalence and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Variability on memory performance reported in FLE studies suggest this deficit may be dependant on the areas involved in seizure generation and spread. Recent research findings and the application of cognitive fMRI paradigms to FLE patients holds the promise of increasing understanding further.
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executive function and fluid intelligence after Frontal Lobe lesions
Brain, 2010Co-Authors: Maria Roca, Alice Parr, Russell Thompson, Alexandra Woolgar, Teresa Torralva, Nagui Antoun, Facundo Manes, J S DuncanAbstract:Many tests of specific 'executive functions' show deficits after Frontal Lobe lesions. These deficits appear on a background of reduced fluid intelligence, best measured with tests of novel problem solving. For a range of specific executive tests, we ask how far Frontal deficits can be explained by a general fluid intelligence loss. For some widely used tests, e.g. Wisconsin Card Sorting, we find that fluid intelligence entirely explains Frontal deficits. When patients and controls are matched on fluid intelligence, no further Frontal deficit remains. For these tasks too, deficits are unrelated to lesion location within the Frontal Lobe. A second group of tasks, including tests of both cognitive (e.g. Hotel, Proverbs) and social (Faux Pas) function, shows a different pattern. Deficits are not fully explained by fluid intelligence and the data suggest association with lesions in the right anterior Frontal cortex. Understanding of Frontal Lobe deficits may be clarified by separating reduced fluid intelligence, important in most or all tasks, from other more specific impairments and their associated regions of damage.
Trevor W Robbins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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planning and spatial working memory following Frontal Lobe lesions in man
Neuropsychologia, 1990Co-Authors: Adrian M Owen, J J Downes, Barbara J Sahakian, C E Polkey, Trevor W RobbinsAbstract:Twenty-six patients with unilateral or bilateral Frontal Lobe excisions were compared with age and IQ matched controls on a computerized battery of tests of spatial working memory and planning. A computerized test of spatial short term memory capacity revealed no significant impairment in the patients' ability to execute a given sequence of visuo-spatial moves. In contrast, a paradigm designed to assess spatial working memory capacity, revealed significant impairments in the patient group in both possible types of search errors. Furthermore. additional analysis showed that the Frontal Lobe patients were less efficient than controls in their usage of a strategy for improving performance on this test. Higher level planning was also investigated using a test based on the "'Tower of London" problcm (SHALLICE, T. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 298, 199 209, 1982). Patients with Frontal Lobe damage required more moves to complete the problems and a yoked motor control condition revealed that movement times were significantly increased in this group. Taking both of these factors into consideration, initial thinking (planning) time was unimpaired in the patient group although the thinking time subsequent to the first move was significantly prolonged. These data are compared to previous findings from patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and are discussed in terms of an impairment of higher cognitive functioning following Frontal Lobe damage.
Luigi Ferini-strambi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Autosomal dominant nocturnal Frontal Lobe epilepsy
Journal of Neurology, 2004Co-Authors: R. Combi, L. Dalprà, M. L. Tenchini, Luigi Ferini-strambiAbstract:Autosomal dominant nocturnal Frontal Lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is an idiopathic epilepsy, with a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from brief, stereotyped, sudden arousals to more complex dystonic–dyskinetic seizures. Video–polysomnography allows a correct differential diagnosis. There is no difference between sporadic nocturnal Frontal Lobe epilepsy (NFLE) and ADNFLE in the clinical and neurophysiological findings. ADNFLE is the first idiopathic epilepsy for which a genetic basis has been identified. Mutations have been found in two genes (CHRNA4 and CHRNB2) coding for neuronal nicotinic receptor subunits (α4 and β2, respectively). Contrasting data have been reported on the effect of these mutations on the functionality of the receptor.Moreover, the incomplete data on the neuronal network/s in which this receptor is involved, make difficult the understanding of the genotype–phenotype correlation. This is an overview on the clinical and genetic aspects of ADNFLE including a discussion of some open questions on the role of the neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit mutations in the pathogenesis of this form of epilepsy.
