Is an earlier onset of focal epilepsy associated with atypical language lateralization? A systematic review, meta-analysis and new data.

ABSTRACT: Right and bilateral language representation is common in focal epilepsy, possibly reflecting the influence of epileptogenic lesions and/or seizure activity in the left hemisphere. Atypical language lateralization is assumed to be more likely in cases of early seizure onset, due to greater language plasticity in childhood. However, evidence for this association is mixed, with most research based on small samples and heterogenous cohorts. In this preregistered meta-analysis we examined the association between age at seizure onset and fMRI-derived language lateralization in individuals with focal epilepsy. The pooled effect size demonstrated a correlation between an earlier onset and rightward language lateralization in the total sample (r=0.1, p=.005, k=58, n=1240), with no difference in the

SUBMITTER: Prentice F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11601735 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature