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Anatomic dissociation of auditory and visual naming in the lateral temporal cortex
M J Hamberger1, R R Goodman, K Perrine
1Departments of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. mh61@columbia.edu
Neurology
|January 10, 2001
Summary
Auditory naming tasks identify distinct brain regions in the anterior temporal lobe compared to visual naming tasks. This finding can improve language mapping during epilepsy surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurosurgery
- Epileptology
Background:
- Traditional visual object naming identifies critical naming sites in the middle and posterior temporal regions.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy pathophysiology suggests auditory cues may reveal distinct naming sites.
- Hypothesis: Auditory naming sites are anatomically distinct and anterior to visual naming sites within the temporal region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinctness and location of naming sites identified by auditory versus visual cues.
- To determine if auditory naming tasks improve language mapping in epilepsy surgery.
Main Methods:
- Direct cortical stimulation for language mapping in 20 patients undergoing left temporal lobe resection.
- Testing of visual and auditory naming at lateral temporal sites from anterior to posterior.
Main Results:
- Auditory naming disruption occurred consistently with stimulation in the anterior temporal lobe.
- Both auditory and visual naming were impaired by stimulation in the posterior temporal region.
Conclusions:
- Auditory naming tasks identify unique language cortex in the anterior temporal lobe, distinct from visual naming sites.
- Utilizing auditory naming tasks may enhance pre-resection identification of essential language cortex during direct stimulation mapping.
- This approach could improve presurgical localization of dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy.