Neuropsychological profile of memory and attention in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and its comparison with healthy people (مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

چکیده

Background: Epilepsy is associated with multiple neuropsychological deficits, and various studies have reported impairments in memory, language, executive functions, and attention. This condition can significantly affect social interactions and communication, leading to challenges in daily life. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological profile of attention and associative memory in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and compare it with healthy individuals. Methods: The research employed a descriptive, causal-comparative design. Sixty individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and 60 healthy individuals (N= 120) comprised the sample. The Wechsler Memory Scale(Wechsler, 1945) for Adults and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test(Berginström et al., 2015) were used to measure variables. Data analysis was conducted using an independent t-test and its non-parametric equivalent, the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The results indicated a significant difference in associative memory between individuals with epilepsy and healthy individuals (Z= 8.90, p< 0.01). Moreover, a significant difference was found in auditory attention between the two groups (Z= 8.18, p< 0.01). Finally, there was a significant difference in visual attention between individuals with epilepsy and healthy individuals (Z= 9.90, p< 0.01). Conclusion: The study’s findings suggest that individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy exhibit significant deficits in memory and attention compared to their healthy counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of the temporal lobe in cognitive processes and emphasize the necessity of neuropsychological assessments in treatment programs to improve the quality of life for these patients.