Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective
IntroductionThe supplementary motor area (SMA) is one of the more common locations where low-grade gliomas (LGG) are found. It is an area that, in addition to controlling movement, is also involved in a range of cognitive functions, including executive functions, but data on this topic is still scar...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1554063/full |
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| author | Aleksandra Bala Agnieszka Olejnik Weronika Rejner Antonina Gottman-Narożna Kacper Koczyk Kacper Koczyk Tomasz Dziedzic Przemysław Kunert |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Bala Agnieszka Olejnik Weronika Rejner Antonina Gottman-Narożna Kacper Koczyk Kacper Koczyk Tomasz Dziedzic Przemysław Kunert |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Bala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe supplementary motor area (SMA) is one of the more common locations where low-grade gliomas (LGG) are found. It is an area that, in addition to controlling movement, is also involved in a range of cognitive functions, including executive functions, but data on this topic is still scarce. The aim of this study was a comprehensive assessment of executive functions, as well as an evaluation of clinical variables that may influence the obtained results.Materials and methodsThe study included 23 patients with LGG tumors located in the SMA and a control group of 57 healthy individuals. They were all tested using a set of neuropsychological tests: the Stroop Test, the Verbal Fluency Test, the Tower of London Test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.ResultsThe conducted analyses revealed the presence of significant differences between groups in terms of selected indicators of each test. Furthermore, the results of individual TOL and WCST indicators showed significant correlations with the tumor volume. The comparison of patients with tumors in the left and right hemispheres revealed differences solely in WCST performance, with those having left SMA damage performing worse. There were also differences in the performance of the WCST test to the disadvantage of patients who had epileptic seizures compared to those who did not. Moreover, patients with oligodendrogliomas scored lower than those with astrocytomas on some of the WCST indices.ConclusionsPatients with LGG tumors in the supplementary motor area present a wide range of executive dysfunctions, including planning, reasoning, inhibition, switching, and cognitive flexibility. Both the volume and type of tumor, the hemisphere in which it is located and the occurrence of epileptic seizures may be related to the results. Future studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b9ef2e275e66459483eb2646c8cbd233 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-b9ef2e275e66459483eb2646c8cbd2332025-08-20T03:51:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-07-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.15540631554063Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspectiveAleksandra Bala0Agnieszka Olejnik1Weronika Rejner2Antonina Gottman-Narożna3Kacper Koczyk4Kacper Koczyk5Tomasz Dziedzic6Przemysław Kunert7Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDoctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandIntroductionThe supplementary motor area (SMA) is one of the more common locations where low-grade gliomas (LGG) are found. It is an area that, in addition to controlling movement, is also involved in a range of cognitive functions, including executive functions, but data on this topic is still scarce. The aim of this study was a comprehensive assessment of executive functions, as well as an evaluation of clinical variables that may influence the obtained results.Materials and methodsThe study included 23 patients with LGG tumors located in the SMA and a control group of 57 healthy individuals. They were all tested using a set of neuropsychological tests: the Stroop Test, the Verbal Fluency Test, the Tower of London Test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.ResultsThe conducted analyses revealed the presence of significant differences between groups in terms of selected indicators of each test. Furthermore, the results of individual TOL and WCST indicators showed significant correlations with the tumor volume. The comparison of patients with tumors in the left and right hemispheres revealed differences solely in WCST performance, with those having left SMA damage performing worse. There were also differences in the performance of the WCST test to the disadvantage of patients who had epileptic seizures compared to those who did not. Moreover, patients with oligodendrogliomas scored lower than those with astrocytomas on some of the WCST indices.ConclusionsPatients with LGG tumors in the supplementary motor area present a wide range of executive dysfunctions, including planning, reasoning, inhibition, switching, and cognitive flexibility. Both the volume and type of tumor, the hemisphere in which it is located and the occurrence of epileptic seizures may be related to the results. Future studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1554063/fullsupplementary motor areaSMAlow-grade gliomaLGGexecutive functionsneuropsychological assessment |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Bala Agnieszka Olejnik Weronika Rejner Antonina Gottman-Narożna Kacper Koczyk Kacper Koczyk Tomasz Dziedzic Przemysław Kunert Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective Frontiers in Human Neuroscience supplementary motor area SMA low-grade glioma LGG executive functions neuropsychological assessment |
| title | Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective |
| title_full | Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective |
| title_fullStr | Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective |
| title_short | Executive dysfunctions in patients with low-grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area: a neuropsychological perspective |
| title_sort | executive dysfunctions in patients with low grade gliomas in the supplementary motor area a neuropsychological perspective |
| topic | supplementary motor area SMA low-grade glioma LGG executive functions neuropsychological assessment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1554063/full |
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