TY - JOUR
T1 - Executive functional deficits during electrical stimulation of the right frontal aslant tract
AU - Rutten, Geert-Jan
AU - Landers, Maud
AU - De Baene, Wouter
AU - Meijerink, Tessa
AU - van der Hek, Stephanie
AU - Verheul, Jeroen H.B.
N1 - Ethics approval
This study was approved by the local ethics committee (METC Brabant, The Netherlands).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Direct electrical stimulation mapping was used to map executive functions during awake surgery of a patient with a right frontal low-grade glioma. We specifically targeted the frontal aslant tract, as this pathway had been infiltrated by the tumor. The right frontal aslant tract has been implicated in executive functions in the neuroscientific literature, but is yet of unknown relevance for clinical practice. Guided by tractography, electrical stimulation of the frontal aslant tract disrupted working memory and inhibitory functions. In this report we illustrate the dilemmas that neurosurgeons face when balancing maximal tumor resection against optimal cognitive performance. In particular, we emphasize that intraoperative tasks that target cognitive functions should be carefully introduced in clinical practice to prevent clinically irrelevant responses and too early termination of the resection.
AB - Direct electrical stimulation mapping was used to map executive functions during awake surgery of a patient with a right frontal low-grade glioma. We specifically targeted the frontal aslant tract, as this pathway had been infiltrated by the tumor. The right frontal aslant tract has been implicated in executive functions in the neuroscientific literature, but is yet of unknown relevance for clinical practice. Guided by tractography, electrical stimulation of the frontal aslant tract disrupted working memory and inhibitory functions. In this report we illustrate the dilemmas that neurosurgeons face when balancing maximal tumor resection against optimal cognitive performance. In particular, we emphasize that intraoperative tasks that target cognitive functions should be carefully introduced in clinical practice to prevent clinically irrelevant responses and too early termination of the resection.
KW - Awake surgery
KW - Direct electrical stimulation
KW - Executive functions
KW - Frontal aslant tract
KW - Glioma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100178552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11682-020-00439-8
DO - 10.1007/s11682-020-00439-8
M3 - Article
JO - Brain Imaging and Behavior
JF - Brain Imaging and Behavior
SN - 1931-7557
ER -