INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 11 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology \| Education/Training \| Professional Practice Issues Final Abstract #50 Beyond Words: Cultural Identity Factors in Functional Mapping During Awake Craniotomies Kseniya Katsman, Fordham University, New York, United States Jessica Spat-Lemus, Montclair State University, Montclair, United States Heidi Bender, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience Keyword 1: cross-cultural issues Keyword 2: multiculturalism Keyword 3: medical disorders/illness Objective: Culture has been defined to include language, societal norms, values, beliefs, and artifacts in any given society (Baldwin et al., 2006). Regard for a patient’s cultural identity factors is essential to all aspects of neuropsychological care. Although the field has begun to integrate cultural factors, such as linguistic considerations, into neuropsychological case conceptualization (e.g., Irani, 2022; Koay et al., 2023), few existing studies examined the role of other essential cultural factors in functional mapping (e.g., Bu et al., 2021). We present examples of critical cultural considerations and adaptations to intraoperative mapping tasks and procedures that go beyond the assessment of language, which better reflect patients’ unique cultural aspects and contribute to more successful outcomes during the functional mapping process. Participants and Methods: A case series (N = 3) of patients undergoing intraoperative language mapping were seen in a Department of Neurological Surgery. Societal norms and cultural references: A 58-year-old bilingual (Russian, English) patient presented for removal of a large left frontal mass (glioblastoma multiforme). Cultural identity was assessed during pre-mapping, dictating alterations of paradigms and stimuli to reflect cultural relevance. During the procedure, songs in the patient’s native language and culturally appropriate reassurance were added to alleviate significant anxiety and cultural mistrust of medical interventions. Values and beliefs: A 47-year-old bilingual (Thai, English) patient presented for anterior temporal lobectomy for lifelong epilepsy. A discussion of cultural identity prior to mapping revealed the conflict between the patient’s deep belief in not wishing to alter the ‘divine plan’ and pursuing neurosurgical intervention with the goals of seizure freedom. Artifacts: A 49-year-old bilingual (Welsh, English) patient presented for posterior parietal lobectomy for lifelong epilepsy. Cultural identity was assessed during pre-mapping, which led to the alteration of stimuli assessing geographic orientation and adjustment of the vernacular used in linguistic tasks to reflect cultural relevance. Results: Establishing a patient’s cultural identity during pre-mapping visits should include an assessment of constructs beyond language in order to facilitate connectivity between patients and providers and alleviate anxiety associated with neurosurgery. Doing so will also likely engender increased engagement in this often-difficult procedure, as well as ensuring that stimuli are optimized, reliable, and valid. Conclusions: Cultural sensitivity is paramount in facilitating functional mapping. Bridging cultural borders in intraoperative mapping has additional implications for technology-assisted intraoperative mapping, as integrating cultural identity may present unique challenges and opportunities for improvement on existing technology.

Poster

02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues

Final Abstract #50

Beyond Words: Cultural Identity Factors in Functional Mapping During Awake Craniotomies

Kseniya Katsman, Fordham University, New York, United States
Jessica Spat-Lemus, Montclair State University, Montclair, United States
Heidi Bender, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States

Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience

Keyword 1: cross-cultural issues
Keyword 2: multiculturalism
Keyword 3: medical disorders/illness

Objective:

Culture has been defined to include language, societal norms, values, beliefs, and artifacts in any given society (Baldwin et al., 2006). Regard for a patient’s cultural identity factors is essential to all aspects of neuropsychological care. Although the field has begun to integrate cultural factors, such as linguistic considerations, into neuropsychological case conceptualization (e.g., Irani, 2022; Koay et al., 2023), few existing studies examined the role of other essential cultural factors in functional mapping (e.g., Bu et al., 2021). We present examples of critical cultural considerations and adaptations to intraoperative mapping tasks and procedures that go beyond the assessment of language, which better reflect patients’ unique cultural aspects and contribute to more successful outcomes during the functional mapping process.

Participants and Methods:

A case series (N = 3) of patients undergoing intraoperative language mapping were seen in a Department of Neurological Surgery.

Societal norms and cultural references: A 58-year-old bilingual (Russian, English) patient presented for removal of a large left frontal mass (glioblastoma multiforme). Cultural identity was assessed during pre-mapping, dictating alterations of paradigms and stimuli to reflect cultural relevance. During the procedure, songs in the patient’s native language and culturally appropriate reassurance were added to alleviate significant anxiety and cultural mistrust of medical interventions.
Values and beliefs: A 47-year-old bilingual (Thai, English) patient presented for anterior temporal lobectomy for lifelong epilepsy. A discussion of cultural identity prior to mapping revealed the conflict between the patient’s deep belief in not wishing to alter the ‘divine plan’ and pursuing neurosurgical intervention with the goals of seizure freedom.
Artifacts: A 49-year-old bilingual (Welsh, English) patient presented for posterior parietal lobectomy for lifelong epilepsy. Cultural identity was assessed during pre-mapping, which led to the alteration of stimuli assessing geographic orientation and adjustment of the vernacular used in linguistic tasks to reflect cultural relevance.

Results:

Establishing a patient’s cultural identity during pre-mapping visits should include an assessment of constructs beyond language in order to facilitate connectivity between patients and providers and alleviate anxiety associated with neurosurgery. Doing so will also likely engender increased engagement in this often-difficult procedure, as well as ensuring that stimuli are optimized, reliable, and valid.

Conclusions:

Cultural sensitivity is paramount in facilitating functional mapping. Bridging cultural borders in intraoperative mapping has additional implications for technology-assisted intraoperative mapping, as integrating cultural identity may present unique challenges and opportunities for improvement on existing technology.