Executive Function Performance for Children With Epilepsy Localized to the Frontal or Temporal Lobes

Cynthia A. Riccio, Jessica A. Pliego, Morris J. Cohen, Yong Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research with adults with epilepsy consistently indicates deficits in executive function (EF). There is less research specific to children with epilepsy and EF. The purpose of this study was to consider EF deficits in children with complex partial epilepsy and complex partial with secondary generalization epilepsy with onset localized to the frontal or temporal lobes. This was a retrospective study of 28 children followed in an outpatient pediatric epilepsy clinic who were consecutively referred for neuropsychological assessment, which included measures of EF. The sample was predominantly White and male, with a mean age of 12.88 years (SD = 1.64) and mean cognitive ability of 89.39 (SD = 13.41). Comparison of right-temporal, left-temporal, and frontal groups yielded significant differences (p = .01) between the left-temporal and frontal groups on the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST) Categories with the frontal group demonstrating the greatest deficits. Although mean differences were not significant, the frequency of impaired performance by the frontal group on the Attention/Concentration Index was greater than in the temporal groups. Results indicate that for children with complex partial and complex partial with secondary generalized seizures localized to the frontal and temporal lobes, there is an increased likelihood for impaired EF evident on the WCST, but not on others. Implications of these findings for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-284
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Neuropsychology: Child
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2 2015

Keywords

  • children
  • epilepsy
  • executive function

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Executive Function Performance for Children With Epilepsy Localized to the Frontal or Temporal Lobes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this