WADA test
Pronunciation: WAH-da
A pre-surgical neuropsychological procedure that temporarily inactivates one brain hemisphere to assess language and memory function before epilepsy surgery.
Full Definition
The WADA test, also known as the intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure, is a diagnostic technique used to determine hemispheric language and memory dominance before epilepsy surgery or other neurosurgical procedures. Named after Japanese neurologist Juhn Wada, the test involves selective injection of sodium amobarbital into the internal carotid artery to temporarily suppress function in one cerebral hemisphere while the other hemisphere is tested for language and memory capabilities. This procedure helps neurosurgeons minimize the risk of post-operative language or memory deficits by identifying critical functional areas. The test has been increasingly supplemented or replaced by less invasive methods such as functional MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation mapping.
Usage
Usage note: Named after Dr. Juhn Wada; should be capitalized as a proper noun.
In Context
- "The WADA test confirmed left hemispheric language dominance prior to temporal lobectomy." — Pre-surgical evaluation report
- "Atypical language lateralization was demonstrated on WADA testing, necessitating modified surgical planning." — Neurosurgical case discussion