Inhibitory dysfunction may cause prospective memory impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients: an event-related potential study

Introduction Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember future intentions, and PM function closely related independence in daily life, particularly patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). As involves various cognitive components of attention, working memory, inhibition other executive functions, this study investigated how TLE may affect underlying neural mechanisms. Methods Sixty-four subjects were recruited, including 20 refractory patients, 18 well-controlled 26 age-matched healthy controls. A set neuropsychological tests was administered assess specific brain functions. An event-related potential (ERP) task used further explore its would be differentially affected two types. Results Our findings revealed that: (1) scored lower than controls digit span, Verbal Fluency Test Symbol Digit Modalities Test; (2) exhibited impaired performance reduced prospective positivity amplitudes over frontal, central parietal regions ERP experiments when compared controls; (3) decreased P3 nogo trials observed frontal-central sites but not patients. Discussion To our knowledge, first on that has specifically identified impairment finding double dissociation suggests dysfunction main reason for deficit The present results have clinical implications rehabilitation