title: Quantitative movement analysis differentiates focal seizures characterized by automatisms.
abstract: The analysis of epileptic seizures is typically performed by visual inspection, limited by interrater variation. Our aim was to differentiate seizures characterized by automatisms with an objective, quantitative movement analysis. In part 1 of this study we found parameters (extent and speed of movement of the wrist and trunk) separating seizures with predominant proximal (hyperkinetic, n=10) and distal (automotor, n=10) limb automatisms (P<0.002). For each movement parameter we used the lowest value recorded for a hyperkinetic seizure in part 1 as the cutoff parameter in part 2 on a consecutive sample of 100 motor seizures. As in part 1, the difference between hyperkinetic and non-hyperkinetic seizures was highly significant (<0.001). When all movement parameters were above the threshold, a hyperkinetic seizure was identified with a probability of 80.8%, but the probability for a non-hyperkinetic seizure to have all parameters above the threshold was only 0.02%.
authors: Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Rémi
authors: João P Silva
authors: JP
authors: Cunha
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Vollmar
authors: Özgür Bilgin
authors: ÖB
authors: Topçuoğlu
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Meier
authors: Steffen
authors: S
authors: Ulowetz
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Beleza
authors: Soheyl
authors: S
authors: Noachtar
mesh_terms: D001332:Automatism; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014741:Video Recording; D014953:Wrist / Q000294:innervation