Semantic Memory and MRI Volumetrics in Epilepsy

描述（由申请人提供）：早发性颞叶癫痫（TLE） 通常与认知缺陷和定量体积相关 磁共振成像（MRI）异常。情节记忆受损， 或新的学习，海马萎缩是最好的特点，这些 认知和结构缺陷。相反，语义的异常 记忆或事实知识的系统研究要少得多， 颞叶癫痫患者语义记忆受损的神经解剖学相关性尚待进一步研究。 报道在这份申请中， 发展奖，候选人提出了一个有组织的培训计划， 有监督的研究，重点是语义记忆及其神经基础， TLE。虽然申请人有临床神经心理学的经验， 建议提供额外的培训，在研究伦理，实验 认知神经心理学，定量容积磁共振成像，磁共振成像 诊断学、临床癫痫、语言发展和高级统计学 分析.这一培训将与一个研究项目相结合，该项目将： 1)比较TLE患者和健康对照组在一个全面的电池， 语义记忆测量，2）量化MRI体积异常， 颞叶的子区域，以及3）确定 认知测量和外侧对内侧（即，海马）颞叶 体积测定法。这些发现将有助于改善语义检测 临床神经心理学评估中的知识缺陷及其进展 理解语义记忆的神经基础。最后，这个奖 将为申请人提供独立的背景和培训 致力于阐明TLE患者关系的研究生涯 语义记忆、其他认知能力和大脑结构之间的关系， 描述这些关系对社会，教育， 和职业功能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Early onset temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) typically is associated with cognitive deficits and quantitative volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. Impairment of episodic memory, or new learning, and hippocampal atrophy are the best characterized of these cognitive and structural deficits. In contrast, abnormalities of semantic memory, or factual knowledge, have been studied much less systematically, and the neuroanatomic correlates of impaired semantic memory in TLE have yet to be reported. In this application for a Mentored PatientOriented Research Career Development Award, the candidate proposes an organized program of training and supervised research focusing on semantic memory and its neural substrate in TLE. While the applicant has experience in clinical neuropsychology, the proposal provides for additional training in research ethics, experimental cognitive neuropsychology, quantitative volumetric MRI processing, MRI diagnostics, clinical epilepsy, language development, and advanced statistical analysis. This training will be integrated with a research project that will: 1) Compare TLE patients and healthy controls on a comprehensive battery of semantic memory measures, 2) quantify MRI volumetric abnormalities in sub-regions of the temporal lobe, and 3) determine the relationship between the cognitive measures and lateral versus mesial (i.e., hippocampal) temporal lobe volumetrics. These findings will lead to improved detection of semantic knowledge deficits in clinical neuropsychological assessment and an advance understanding of the neural substrate of semantic memory. Finally, this award would provide the applicant with the background and training for an independent research career dedicated to elucidating the relationships in TLE patients among semantic memory, other cognitive abilities, and brain structure, and characterizing the implications of these relationships for social, educational, and occupational functioning.