Wada test

From Psy3241

The Wada test involves administering a fast acting barbiturate to one hemisphere at a time. The barbiturate is adminstered through the left or right carotid artery. For individuals undergoing neuropsychological testing, especially concerning memory and language, it is crucial to determine which hemisphere is primarily dominant. In epileptic patients a person may have verbal and visual impairments on both temporal lobes, meaning that if one hemisphere is removed, the patient will be left with an impaired hemisphere. A patient may undergo a Wada procedure in order to determine the capabilities of each hemisphere including speech, naming, and memory.

Procedure

A baseline procedure is performed to determine the capabilities of the patient while both hemispheres are active. Next, sodium amytal is used as an anesthetic and is injected into the carotid artery of a hemisphere of the brain. This paralyzes the opposite side of the patient's body and the neuropsychological tests are performed. [1]