The Memory Assessment Scales and lateralized temporal lobe epilepsy

We report Memory Assessment Scales (MAS) performance in 101 patients with u nilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE: left, n = 51; right, n = 50) with le ft cerebral language dominance. A significant multivariate group effect was present for the major summary indices (Verbal Memory. Visual Memory, and G lobal Memory. p < .04). Univariate analyses revealed no significant differe nces for either the Global Memory or Verba I Memory summary scores. althoug h a significant group difference was present for Visual Memory ( p < .04). The Verbal Memory-Visual Memory discrepancy score was significantly differe nt between right and left TLE groups(p < .004). Verbal Memory scores were a t least 14 points lower than Visual Memory scores in 34 patients (left = 20 . 59%; right = 14. 41%). Visual Memory scores were at least 14 points lower than Verbal Memory performance in 20 patients (left = 5. 25%. right = 15. 75%). Diagnostic efficiency statistics show higher sensitivity but lower sp ecificity in group classification for left TLE patients. These data suggest that the MAS is sensitive to material-specific memory deficits associated with a unilateral temporal lobe seizure focus. However, over one-third of t he patients(19/54) with at least a 14-point Verbal Memory-Visual Memory dis crepancy were classified incorrectly. The MAS. like other material-specific memory measures. should be interpreted within the context of other clinica l findings. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.