Intraoperative Mapping of Cognitive Networks

Book excerpt: This book aims to give the state-of-the-art of intraoperative brain function mapping for resection of brain tumors in awake conditions, and to become a reference for acquiring the fundamental expertise necessary to select the right intraoperative task at the right time of the surgery. The chapters, all focused on a specific brain function, are divided in 4 parts: sensori-motor and visuo-spatial functions, language functions, higher-order functions, and prospects. Each chapter follows the same outline, including a brief review of the current knowledge about the networks sustaining the function in healthy subjects, the description of the intraoperative tasks designed to monitor the function, a review of the literature describing the deficits in that function after surgery, and a critical appraisal of the benefit provided by intraoperative mapping of that function.