title: Behavioural treatment of slow cortical potentials in intractable epilepsy: neuropsychological predictors of outcome.
abstract: The study aimed to explore the predictive value of neuropsychological tests within the context of acquisition of slow cortical potential (SCP) self-control, a technique which has beneficial effects on seizure frequency in epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy who successfully achieved SCP control had longer digit or block-tapping spans than less successful patients. Patients who showed a better learning rate across training also displayed better verbal memory and learning abilities. Seizure reduction was related to block-tapping spans only. The results indicate that measures of attention, as indicated by digit spans or block-tapping spans, offer some predictive value for acquisition of SCP control and treatment outcome, whilst measures of visuospatial or frontal lobe function are unrelated to SCP acquisition and seizure reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Physiological Psychology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Daum
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birbaumer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elbert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canavan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lutzenberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012640:Seizures / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants