Physical Feature Encoding and Word Recognition Abilities Are Altered in Children with Intractable Epilepsy: Preliminary Neuromagnetic Evidence

Abstract

Objective evaluation of language function is critical for children with intractable epilepsy under consideration for epilepsy surgery. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate word recognition in children with intractable epilepsy by using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Ten children with intractable epilepsy (M/F 6/4, mean ± SD 13.4 ± 2.2 years) were matched on age and sex to healthy controls. Common nouns were presented simultaneously from visual and auditory sensory inputs in “match” and “mismatch” conditions. Neuromagnetic responses M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 with latencies of ~100 ms, ~150 ms, ~250 ms, ~350 ms, and ~450 ms, respectively, elicited during the “match” condition were identified. Compared to healthy children, epilepsy patients had both significantly delayed latency of the M1 and reduced amplitudes of M3 and M5 responses. These results provide neurophysiologic evidence of altered word recognition in children with intractable epilepsy.

Magnetoencephalographic Identification of Epileptic Focus in Children With Generalized Electroencephalographic (EEG) Features but Focal Imaging Abnormalities

“…22,23 Some other studies included mostly older children who could cooperate. 24,25 In the current study, we took special care to conduct the MEG recording for the infants and children included in the most natural conditions, with post-feeding natural sleep, and ensuring presence of a parent in the magnetically shielded room, to maximize yield without use of sedative or anesthetic medications. Although some other reports also mention MEG findings in pediatric epilepsy population without the use of sedation, 26 the children included in the present study were much younger, even infants.…”