Reliable neuropsychological markers of right temporal integrity have
proven elusive. Specifically it is unclear whether figural and spatial
aspects of visual memory are differentially affected by right temporal
lobe epilepsy (TLE) and subsequent resection. To investigate this we used
the modified Rey Complex Figure (RCF) scoring system devised by Brier et
al. (1996) to obtain separate indices of figural
and spatial memory in TLE surgery candidates. We extended on their study
by examining presurgical performance and change following right and left
temporal lobectomy (RATL, n = 38, LATL, n = 42) in
individuals from a cross-institutional sample with and without hippocampal
sclerosis (HS+/HS−). Contrary to expectation neither figural nor
spatial RCF recall were differentially sensitive to RTLE, right HS, or
subsequent resection. Presurgically, laterality effects on both figural
and spatial memory indices were not found although HS− individuals
significantly outperformed HS+ individuals on both measures. Following
surgery the largest decrements in both figural and spatial recall were
observed among LATL HS− participants. We concluded that RCF recall
is a poor marker of right temporal lobe function and suggest it may be a
“surrogate” measure of left temporal lobe function possibly
due to the verbalizability of many of its components. (JINS,
2007, 13, 664–671.)