Efficacy of the Continuous Visual Memory Test in lateralizing temporal lobe dysfunction in chronic complex-partial epilepsy

The Continuous Visual Memory Test (CVMT) was hypothesized to measure nondominant temporal lobe dysfunction in patients with refractory complex-partial epilepsy. Thirty-seven temporal lobectomy candidates, of whom 20 had a right temporal seizure focus (RT) and 17 had a left temporal seizure focus (LT), were selected for study. Contrary to the hypothesis, initial results indicated that the LT group performed below the RT group for both the CVMT Total score and the Delayed Recognition score; however, group differences disappeared after accounting for Full Scale IQ scores. Both CVMT scores correlated positively and significantly with Full Scale IQ, Block Design, and the Meier Visual Discrimination Test, suggesting that overall cognitive functioning and visual-perceptual processing are positively related to CVMT performance. These results are consistent with other recent findings which suggest that extent nonverbal memory tests may be inadequate in lateralizing nondominant hemisphere lesions in complex-partial epilepsy.