Mapping of Further Brain Functions
摘要
Highly specialized centers also perform intraoperative awake mapping of higher neuropsychological functions apart from language functions such as arithmetic processing, visuospatial attention, face processing, categorization, working memory, judgment, processing of facial emotions, or even playing instruments and singing. The results of motor and language mappings by nTMS have repeatedly shown a good correlation in comparison with the results of the gold standard technique of intraoperative DES. In the past, repetitive TMS (rTMS) has significantly contributed to our current knowledge of cortical representations of higher neuropsychological functions. Regarding the application in neurosurgical patients, multiple studies using navigated rTMS (nrTMS) have been published and show encouraging results concerning this approach’s clinical use. By the preoperative use of nrTMS in patients, neurosurgeons include these data in preoperative planning to transfer data to the operating room and visualize subcortical pathways using nrTMS-based DTI FT. The mapping of higher neuropsychological functions by nrTMS contributes to an advanced perioperative neurocognitive assessment.