Abstract
It is a follow-up study of a right-handed 41-year-old male patient in whom a left hemispherectomy was perfomed 31 years ago. The study was mainly focused on his neuropsychological functions. The operation was done at the age of 9 years and 11 months due to severe uncontrollable epileptic seizures which occurred at 5 years of age, followed by right hemiplegia, mental retardation and severe violent behaviors.
The patient spoke almost accurately soon after the operation. This was considered to be the results of the compensation of the right hemisphere after the first seizure at the age of 5. However, the level of his language did not improve more than that of the daily conversation. He also had difficulties in understanding complex tasks which required high level of conceptualization. His constructional activity was also disturbed. These findings suggested that his intellectual functions were disturbed in genenal.
At the age of 25, the increases of IQ score, writing ability and calculation skill were remarkable after intensive training for 3 months, but now he is 41 years old, these abilities have reduced to pre-training level.
If the continuous and systematic neuropsychological training had started immediately after the operation, his neuropsychological abilities, especially writing and calculation, might have sustained the considerable level.
