Potential role of a cognitive rehabilitation program following left temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Research into memory and epilepsy has focused on measuring problems and exploring causes with limited attention directed at the role of neuropsychological rehabilitation in alleviating post-operative memory difficulties. Objectives: To assess the effects of a memory rehabilitation program in patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy following surgery. Methods: Twenty-four patients agreed to participate and 18 completed the study; nine received memory rehabilitation while nine had no input and were designated as controls. Verbal learning efficiency, naming abilities, memory subjective ratings, ecological activity measures and a language fMRI paradigm were used as outcome measures. Results: Improved verbal learning and naming test performance, increase in memory strategy use and improved self-perception were observed following the rehabilitation. Changes in fMRI activation patterns were seen in the rehabilitation group over the long term. Conclusion: The findings support the potential role of a cognitive rehabilitation program following left temporal lobe surgery.