Abstract
The study of memory impairment in epileptic syndromes with diffuse and synchronous discharges allows two types of approaches: evaluation of the entity and of the cognitive deficit characteristics and the verification of the chronological order of interference conditions in memory process. For this aim, nine patients affected by generalized epilepsy with frequent diffuse and synchronous polyspike or spike-and-wave discharges were studied. All patients underwent a trial for the recognition of shapes (from Vanderplas & Garvin) which was tachistoscopically presented according to the following sequence: memorandum, 15 sec pause, multiple choice device. Such a sequence was selected in order to ascertain the chronological position of interference on memory process due to spontaneous discharges monitorized by EEG control. A significant reduction of the discharges was noted in every patient, probably due to mental effort. The occurrence of diffuse and synchronous polyspikes or spike-and-waves was associated to a significant increase of incorrect recognitions. The discharges occurring in the different position of the test sequence were correlated to different percentages of incorrect recognitions possibly because spike-and-waves interfere with memory process, on one hand, and or perceptive and attentive functions underlying visual discrimination, on the other.
| Translated title of the contribution | Influence of diffuse and synchronous polyspike or spike-and-wave discharges on recognition of shapes |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 243-245 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Bollettino - Lega Italiana contro l'Epilessia |
| Volume | NO. 45-46 |
| Publication status | Published - 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology