Abstract: Objective To reveal the cerebral activation areas related to semantic processing of language functions in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE).Methods 6 patients with left-TLE,6 patients with right-TLE,and 6 controls,all right-handed,were studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)during a reversible words decision task.Their responses were recorded by key-press.The image data was analyzed by statistical parametric mapping 2(SPM2)including the individual statistical analysis and group analysis.Results There was no difference between the right-TLE patients and controls in cerebral activation,which included left inferior frontal gyrus,left middle frontal gyrus,left superior temporal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus and bilateral cingulate gyrus,bilateral fusiform gyrus,bilateral basal ganglia,bilateral cerebellum(especially right).The activation in patients with left-TLE was atypically distributed relative to the controls,there were more activation in right inferior frontal gyrus,right precentral gyrus and left cuneus,left precuneus.Conclusion There is atypical distribution of the cerebral activation area related to semantic processing of language functions in patients with left-TLE,and enantiomorphous transformation is found in the contrelateral side of cerebrum.

Key words: epilepsy, functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI), language, reversible words