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R Wohlfarth

Publications and source records attributed to R Wohlfarth.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Determination of hemisphere dominance for language: comparison of frontal and temporal fMRI activation with intracarotid amytal testing.

The reliability of frontal and temporal fMRI activations for the determination of hemisphere language dominance was evaluated in comparison with intracarotid amytal testing (IAT). Twenty-two patients were studied by IAT (bilateral in 13, unilateral in 9 patients) and fMRI using a paradigm requiring semantic decisions. Global and regional (frontal and temporoparietal) lateralisation indices (LI) were calculated from the number of activated (r>0.4) voxels in both hemispheres. Frontolateral activations associated with the language task were seen in all patients, temporoparietal activations in 20 of 22. Regional LI corresponded better with IAT results than global LI. Frontolateral LI were consistent with IAT in all patients with bilateral IAT (including three patients with right dominant and one patient with bilateral language representation) and were not conflicting in any of the patients with unilateral IAT. Temporoparietal LI were discordant with IAT in two patients with atypical language representation. In the determination of hemisphere dominance for language, regional analysis of fMRI activation is superior to global analysis. In cases with clear-cut fMRI lateralisation, i.e. consistent lateralised activation of frontal and temporoparietal language zones, IAT may be unnecessary. FMRI should be performed prior to IAT in all patients going to be operated in brain regions potentially involved in language.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Functional MRI in patients with band heterotopia.

Functional activation associated with a motor task (fist movements) was studied in three patients with band heterotopias by fMRI. In two patients, additional visual fMRI studies were performed using a flickering checkerboard stimulus. In all patients activation of the outer cortex and of the inner neuronal band could be found during performance of the motor task. Visual stimulation elicited a normal activation pattern without activation of the ectopic neuronal layer in one patient; in another patient activation extended toward the ventricular wall, i.e., along the route of embryonic neuronal migration. The potential participation of ectopic neuronal tissue in physiologic cerebral functions is of clinical impact in patients with neuronal heterotopias suffering from medically intractable seizures prior to epilepsy surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Aversive learning in patients with unilateral lesions of the amygdala and hippocampus.

The present study applied a visual half field paradigm with emotional facial expressions in patients with selective unilateral amygdalo-hippocampectomy (AHE) to elucidate the contributions of the left and right medial temporal lobe and amygdala to emotional learning. Electrodermal indicators of aversive learning were studied in 14 left AHE and 12 right AHE patients, as well as 13 controls matched in sex and age. In a differential conditioning paradigm with negative (CS+) and positive (CS-) facial expressions, CS+ were associated with an aversive vocalization (US, 95 dB, 3 s). During extinction, stimuli were presented laterally and preattentively using backward masking. Appropriate CS durations yielding preattentive presentation were individually determined prior to conditioning. In contrast to controls, both left and right AHE patients failed to show an autonomic conditioning effect following left visual field presentations of masked negative CS+ during extinction. AHE patients also showed no clear differential acquisition. Moreover, right AHE patients poorly recognised that negative valence was an affiliating dimension of the CS-US compound.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

MOSES: an educational program for patients with epilepsy and their relatives.

The knowledge of patients with epilepsy about their own condition is poor, and thus the need for educational programs for people with epilepsy has long been recognized. However, no such programs have been established in their routine care. The Modular Service Package Epilepsy (MOSES) now tries to fill this gap for patients in German-speaking countries. The program was developed by a multidisciplinary group (neurologists, nonmedical professional helpers, and representatives of national epilepsy associations) for people with epilepsy older than 16 years, independent of the kind and severity of their epilepsy. MOSES is designed for group education and can be used in inpatient and outpatient settings in epilepsy centers, in clinics, and by neurologists in private practice. The program aims to help patients achieve a better understanding of their disease, to gain more self-confidence, and to take over responsibility, thus supporting patients to become experts in managing their own illness. Being modular in structure, MOSES includes nine units: living with epilepsy, epidemiology, basic knowledge, diagnostics, therapy, self-control, prognosis, psychosocial aspects, and network epilepsy. MOSES consists of a workout manual for patients and a trainer manual. For potential trainers, special "train-the-trainer seminars" are offered and considered mandatory. About 400 patients have participated in a MOSES training program in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The efficacy of the program is currently been evaluated.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Theory and research in practice: an opportunity group for young children with developmental difficulties.

Recent research demonstrates, if demonstration be needed, the close relationship between social, emotional and cognitive development and the development of speech and language during the early years of life. This suggests the need for careful consideration of children's social and emotional experiences as part of any process of diagnosis/treatment/education offered to children whose development gives cause for concern particularly when there is no major physical disability to explain the difficulties. The paper describes eight 3-4-year-old children with delayed development, disordered behaviour and difficulties in speech and language who were helped by a method based primarily on understanding and meeting their social developmental needs. Parents were involved, and their own social contact with their children encouraged as part of the programme of help. About 9 months later, only two of the children were regarded as having special educational needs, with the rest making good progress in mainstream nursery or reception classes in local schools.

Child, Preschool↗