Computerized spectral analysis of the interictal EEG in epilepsy.
Eight seizure patients without encephalopathy, frequent seizures, brain lesion, or medication intoxication had significant slowing of alpha-frequency activity, as compared to nonepileptic controls, that was evident in compressed spectral analysis but not in standard EEG. Those patients with cognitive or behavioral problems or taking more than one antiepileptic medication had a greater degree of slowing. Differences between seizure patients with and without cognitive or behavioral symptoms, and between specific antiepileptic drugs, were suggested but could not be assigned significance due to small numbers. The findings suggest that interictal changes in brain function that are not revealed by standard EEG may relate to observed changes in interictal behavior and cognition, and that computerized spectral analysis of the interictal EEG may be of value in the assessment of seizure patients before and during therapy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
D000927:Anticonvulsants