Functional magnetic resonance imaging of memory functions. Importance in the diagnostics of epilepsy patients

Chronic epilepsy is frequently accompanied by cognitive deficits. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as well as resection surgery on the temporal lobe may affect cognitive function, in particular verbal and visual memory but also working memory. Epilepsy arising from the brain's temporal lobe can be controlled surgically in up to 70% of patients. The goals of epilepsy surgery are to remove the brain areas generating the seizures without causing or aggravating memory dysfunction. This requires accurate localization of areas responsible for memory function (eloquent cortex). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is increasingly being used to lateralize and localize brain areas involved in memory processes and shows promise for predicting the effects of temporal lobe resection on memory function, especially when combined with other structural as well as functional imaging methods.