Impact of Interictal Electroencephalographic Abnormalities on the Stability of Attention in the Epilepsies
Condition: Epilepsy
MeSH terms: Epilepsy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Cognitive disorders are a major problem in patients with epilepsy. One hypothesis is that the
      anomalies EEGs (AIC) may be responsible for short periods of attentional fluctuations causing
      a reduction of intellectual efficiency of patients. In this project, we propose to evaluate
      the impact of AIC on cognitive performance, specifically on attentional performance (central
      parameter of cognitive functioning) through the use of a computerized cognitive test (called
      STABILO, detailed below after) to measure, with good temporal sampling, the level of
      attentional engagement of patients in relation to their EEG activity.

      The originality of this study lies in the synchronization of two examinations usually made
      independently (EEG and psychometric testing), respecting a precise temporal coupling. The aim
      is to provide clinicians with a tool to assess very quickly attentional fluctuations in
      epileptic patients, and to assess the potential impact of AIC on the occurrence of these
      changes, with possible therapeutic implications (treatment of AIC and / or specific treatment
      of attention deficit disorder).

      The main objective of this study is to assess whether the presence of AIC EEG can induce a
      weakening of attentional performance.
    

Detailed description: 
      Cognitive disorders are a major problem in patients with epilepsy. A hypothesis supported by
      several authors postulated that abnormal EEGs (AIC) may be responsible for short periods of
      attentional fluctuations causing a reduction of intellectual efficiency of patients. Indeed,
      attention is a central parameter of human cognition, conditioning performance and welfare in
      virtually all areas of activity.

      In this project, we propose to evaluate the impact of AIC on cognitive performance,
      specifically on attentional performance (central parameter of cognitive functioning) through
      the use of a computerized cognitive test (called STABILO, detailed below after) to measure,
      with good temporal sampling, the level of attentional engagement of patients in relation to
      their EEG activity.

      The originality of this study lies in the synchronization of two examinations usually made
      independently (EEG and psychometric testing), respecting a precise temporal coupling. The aim
      is to provide clinicians with a tool to assess very quickly attentional fluctuations in
      epileptic patients, and to assess the potential impact of AIC on the occurrence of these
      changes, with possible therapeutic implications (treatment of AIC and / or specific treatment
      of attention deficit disorder).

      This study consists in a scalp EEG to detect, in real time, based on measurements of reaction
      time and accuracy of responses (recorded every two seconds), the level of attention given by
      the participant in a repetitive task of constant difficulty and correlate the behavioral
      results to AIC identified on the EEG recording. A computer equipped for the realization of
      the STABILO test is already available, its connection / synchronization with standard
      acquisition systems EEG data is already effective through an RS232 serial port.

      Included patients will see their EEG extended for fifteen minutes, during which they will
      carry out a computerized attention task (This is the STABILO experimental protocol developed
      by JP Lachaux and V. Herbillon) allowing the evaluation of the stability of 'attention.
    

Intervention name(s): abnormal EEGs
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): This study consists in a scalp EEG to detect, in real time, based on measurements of reaction time and accuracy of responses (recorded every two seconds), the level of attention given by the participant in a repetitive task of constant difficulty and correlate the behavioral results to AIC identified on the EEG recording. A computer equipped for the realization of the STABILO test is already available, its connection / synchronization with standard acquisition systems EEG data is already effective through an RS232 serial port.
Included patients will see their EEG extended for fifteen minutes, during which they will carry out a computerized attentional task to evaluate the stability of the attention.
Other intervention name(s): AIC
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Diagnostic
Keywords: abnormal EEGs (AIC)