THE HETEROGENEITY OF TEMPORAL-LOBE EPILEPSY - NEUROLOGY, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, AND PSYCHIATRY

The present paper introduces the reader to the behavioral variability of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. The neurobiological variabili ty is evidenced by reviewing neurological, neurophysiological, and neu ropsychological investigations. The behavioral variability of persons affected by epilepsy with a temporal focus is proposed to be an expres sion of the neurobiological complexity of temporal lobe epilepsy. The aim of this paper is to encourage endeavors in behavioral taxonomy. Ef forts to foster homogeneity through improved classification are consid ered fundamental in behavioral science and should be applied to epilep sy. The achievement of a behavioral taxonomy may help in both understa nding the mechanism(s) of these behavioral disorders and targeting mor e specific treatments.