Object naming and semantic knowledge in temporal lobe epilepsy

Object-naming impairment is common among temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patie nts, but other aspects of semantic memory have received limited attention i n this population. This study examined object-naming ability and depth of s emantic knowledge in healthy controls (n = 29) and patients with early onse t TLE (n = 21). After administration of the Boston Naming Test (BNT), the a uthors asked participants to provide detailed definitions of 6 BNT objects. The TLE group demonstrated a significant deficit relative to controls in b oth object-naming ability and semantic knowledge for the target objects, ev en after controlling for IQ. In a multiple regression analysis that include d other neuropsychological test scores as independent variables, the semant ic knowledge score was the only significant predictor of patients' object-n aming performance. Thus, at the group level, early onset TLE patients have a semantic knowledge deficit that contributes to dysnomia.