Remote discharges in the posterior language area during basal temporal stimulation

A 23-year-old woman with refractory complex partial seizures underwent impl antation of subdural grid electrodes over the left hemisphere to map epilep tic foci and language function. Aphasic symptoms occurred during stimulatio n of the basal temporal area, which were always associated with intrastimul us remote discharges (ISRDs) in the classical posterior language area. No s equential language deficits occurred after anterior temporal lobectomy incl uding the basal temporal area. These results suggest a close functional rel ationship between the basal temporal area and posterior language area in pa tients with temporal lobe epilepsy. ISRDs may explain the paradoxical obser vation that resection of the basal temporal language area results in no lan guage deficits. NeuroReport 11:2997-3000 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wil kins.