Between March 1993 and June 2001 80 examinations were made in 78 patients (in one patient a selective test).TheMontreal protocol was adapted for local conditions.The investigation is focused on a language and memory test. Language dominance was assessed after successful bilateral injections in 80 % patients.Of 66 subjects in eight (12.1 %) an atypical lateralization of speech was recorded.Development of articulated speech was highly significantly earlier (p<0.001) after administration into the right hemisphere than after administration into the left one. After administration into the left hemisphere there was amuch greater scatter of time before speech developed.Memory was significantly influenced by lateralization of the lesion and the side which was partly inactivated. As anaesthetic in 40 tests sodium amobarbital was used, in 36 tests methohexital, in 3 instances thiopental, in one instance the experiment was finished before administration of the barbiturate. After amobarbital hemiplegia set in significantly later than after methohexital during inactivation of the left hemisphere, the difference was not significant when administered into the right hemisphere. The first articulated speech after the development of hemiplegia was significantly sooner after amobarbital. This applied to inactivation of the left as well as the right hemisphere. The percentage of correct recovery of memory items was after amobarbital significantly lower than in methohexital but only for inactivation of the left hemisphere. The authors discuss methodological questions, technical impediments of a successful development, problems of interpretation of assembled scores and variants as regards implementation of the examination. So far no reliable non-invasive alternative of this method exists, in some indications the possibilities of its application are even extended and the techniques of its implementation are refined. At present the test is considered a standard examination in specialized centres for epilepsy for evaluation of the probable development of postoperative speech or memory disorders.

        Key words: Wada test, presurgical evaluation of epilepsy, neuropsychology, language dominance, memory