Hemispheric specialization in partial epilepsy. Role of dichotic listening CV task and central audiological evaluation in the neuropsychological assessment.

We studied 49 patients with partial epilepsy divided into lesional cases (i.e. with lesions on CT scan) and non-lesional cases (i.e. without CT scan lesions), in relation to the Wechsler Intelligence Scale subtests (Coding, Digit span), dichotic listening CV task and Central Auditory Test (SSI, PSI). The aim of this paper was to study the hemispheric prevalence in dichotic listening task with regard to cognitive performance, as well as the presence or absence of central auditory dysfunction. Lesional cases presented a hemisphere prevalence in dichotic listening task with regard to cognitive performance, as well as the non-lesional cases tend to report the stimuli in the same side of EEG focus. Significant differences were found among the lesional and non lesional cases in relation to the digit span score and Coding subtest in right lesional cases versus right non-lesional cases. Both lesional and non-lesional group showed signs of central auditory dysfunction. We suggest that the dichotic listening and SSI and PSI test can be useful for a best comprehension of asymmetric neuropsychological performance in partial epilepsy.

Auditory extinction and dichotic listening CV task in cerebral infarction: preliminary report.

Six stroke patients were studied using a dichotic listening CV task, 4 with left hemisphere infarction, 2 with right hemisphere infarction. It was observed a "lesion-effect", a shift of hemisphere prevalence to the side opposite a brain lesion. The authors suggest that the lesion-effect can be explained by the auditory extinction phenomenon at the linguistic level.

Study of the adenovascular body of the posterior part of the nasal septum.

The mucosa of the posterior part of the nasal septum is studied by in vivo observations in 40 seemingly healthy adults, vascular injection of two anatomical specimens rendered transparent, histological studies of serial sections of five anatomical specimens, and macroscopic and histological examination of specimens obtained from 20 cadavers. The presence of an "adenovascular" body was noted in the posterior part of the nasal septum; this body occupies about one fifth of the total area of this region. This study shows that this is a normal structure of the nose and suggests that its name be changed to adenovascular body of the posterior part of the nasal septum.