Functional MRI of language-related activation in left frontal schizencephaly

Brain activation associated with covert verb generation was studied in a ri ght-handed patient with an asymptomatic left frontal schizencephaly by func tional magnetic resonance imaging. Activation of the dysplastic neuronal ti ssue lining the cleft and the adjacent cortex was found. indicating partici pation of the malformed region in physiologic cerebral functions. This find ing may have clinical impact in patients with medically intractable seizure s due to malformations of the cortical development prior to epilepsy surger y.