Memory for facial expressions in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: Preliminary findings

Abstract

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is associated with memory and emotional impairments. However, the majority of previous studies examined patients after the affected structures (hippocampus and amygdala) were surgically removed, so it remains unclear to what extent these deficits are associated with the illness itself or are a consequence of the surgery. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare recognition memory for facial emotional expressions in pre- and post-surgery TLE patients, and its relationship to neuropsychological and clinical variables. We observed higher memory accuracy in pre-surgical patients than in those who had undergone surgery. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the task and the executive functions and memory subtests of the neuropsychological battery, as well as a negative correlation with illness duration. These preliminary results suggest a possible effect of the surgical resection on memory, and highlight the importance of an early intervention for reducing cognitive decline.