Language and Emotional Function in Patients With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Functional MRI (fMRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine how the brain processes tasks involving language and emotion in normal volunteers and in patients with epilepsy. MRI is a diagnostic and research tool that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a magnetic field. During the test, the subject lies on a table that can slide in and out of the cylinder. DTI involves taking pictures of the brain while the subject is at rest in order to learn about the structure of the brain. Information gained from this study will help scientists evaluate the organization of language and emotional functions in the brain.

Normal volunteers and patients with temporal lobe epilepsy 18 years of age and older who are native English speakers and who will undergo surgery for uncontrolled seizures may be eligible for this study. Candidates are initially screened by telephone, then with physical and neurologic examinations and cognitive testing.

The study has two parts, conducted 6 to 12 months apart. Each part consists of the same sets of tests described below, using fMRI and DTI. In patients with epilepsy, Part 1 is scheduled before surgery and Part 2 after surgery.

  • fMRI: Subjects are asked to perform two types of tasks while they undergo fMRI. In one task, they are shown pictures of animals and tools and are asked to name them. In a second task, they are shown pictures that range in content from sexually explicit material, to human injury and surgical slides, to pleasant images of children and wildlife and are asked to decide whether they find the pictures pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant.
  • DTI: Subjects relax and remain still in the MRI scanner for about 45 minutes.
  • Neuropsychological testing: Subjects may be asked to complete questionnaires, take pen-and-paper or computerized tests, and perform motor tasks.

Participants may be asked to repeat the MRI studies, but not the neuropsychological tests, up to four times to investigate different brain functions or to confirm findings.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: Epilepsy surgery is emerging as a potent therapeutic intervention for a large group of patients with uncontrolled temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly when performed early in the course of the illness. Seizure freedom is an important goal of seizure surgery, but post-operative neuropsychological functioning is another equally important outcome measure. Both endpoints require careful pre-operative evaluation of the individual patient and better understanding of the functional neuroanatomy of the temporal lobe. In this study fMRI and DTI will be performed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and normal volunteers in an attempt to

  1. investigate the role of the anterior temporal cortex in semantic processing,
  2. evaluate the role of the amygdala in affective processing,
  3. correlate the extent of white matter pathway resection with cognitive outcome after temporal lobectomy.

STUDY POPULATION: We plan to study 30 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (right-sided, left-sided seizure foci) pre and post temporal lobectomy as well as 30 normal volunteers.

DESIGN: The study will be done in two parts both consisting of identical tasks. For the patient group part 1 will be performed prior to temporal lobectomy and part 2, 6-12 months after temporal lobectomy. For the normal volunteer group parts 1 and 2 will be performed at time interval of 6-12 months.

During part 1 all study subjects will undergo neuropsychological evaluation. FMRI will be performed with two tasks: animal and tool naming (to evaluate semantic processing) and rating of emotionally pleasant or unpleasant pictures (to evaluate affective processing). All subjects will also undergo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the visualization of white matter pathways.

During part 2 of the study all of the above tests will be repeated.

FMRI data will be analyzed within the framework of the general linear model in a program such as AFNI 2.5. Statistical comparisons between activation patterns in scans acquired during part 1 and part 2 within either group (intragroup comparison) will be done by voxel wise paired t-test. In a second analysis all 4 groups will be compared in a mixed model. The DTI data will be correlated with the neuropsychological outcome to asses the contribution of white matter abnormalities pre-operatively or severance of white matter pathways post-operative on neuropsychological functioning.

OUTCOME PARAMETERS: Outcome parameters are changes in the fMRI activation pattern post temporal lobectomy and disruption of anisotropy on the diffusion tensor images.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

20

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patient Group:

Temporal lobe epilepsy (right-sided, left-sided foci) with or without lesion on a structural MRI scan.

Native English speaker.

Age 18 years or older.

Signed informed consent.

Volunteer Group:

Native English speaker.

Age 18 years or older.

Signed informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patient Group:

Medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures (e.g. no braces, pacemakers, cochlear devices, surgical clips, etc;

History of mental retardation;

Pregnancy;

Claustrophobia;

Inability to comply with the protocol.

Volunteer Group:

Medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures (e.g. no braces, pacemakers, cochlear devices, surgical clips, etc.);

History of neurologic or psychiatric disease or a learning or attention disorder or mental retardation.

Pregnancy.

Claustrophobia.

Inability to comply with the protocol.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 9, 2004

Study Completion

April 27, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 10, 2004

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2004

First Posted (Estimate)

April 12, 2004

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 2, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2017

Last Verified

April 27, 2010

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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