Presurgical language fMRI activation correlates with postsurgical verbal memory decline in left-sided temporal lobe epilepsy

We analysed the association of presurgical language fMRI activations and postsurgical verbal memory changes in 16 left-sided mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients with initially intact memory. Patients with severe verbal memory decline after surgery (n=9) had stronger presurgical fMRI activations within the left posterior temporal lobe, compared to those with no decline (n=7). Language fMRI activation may predict verbal memory outcome, even in patients with a high risk of postsurgical memory deterioration. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.