title: Behavioral correlates of epileptiform abnormalities in autism.
abstract: There is a high incidence of epileptiform abnormalities in children with autism even in the absence of clinical seizures. These findings are most prominent during sleep recordings. The significance of these abnormalities is unclear. Although studies do not all agree, there may be some association between cognitive function, behavior, and the presence or absence of epileptiform discharges. Small studies of anticonvulsant treatment mostly suggest an improvement in certain aspects of cognitive or behavioral functioning in these children, but larger and more comprehensive studies are needed to determine the potential relationship between epileptiform discharges on EEG, cognitive and behavioral functioning, and treatment effects in the population with autism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Autism and Epilepsy".
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address: dtrauner@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Doris A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Trauner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Autism; Cognitive/behavioral function; Epileptiform abnormalities