Clinical EEG and neuroscience最新文献

Aims and Objectives: It has been hypothesised that vestibular stimulation may have a modulatory effect on anxiety. The aim of this randomised, double blind, sham-controlled trial was to determine the efficacy and safety of a non-invasive electrical vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) device as a treatment for anxiety compared to a sham stimulation device. Materials and methods: A total of 60 participants (mean age [SD]: 35.6 [8.1]) with a generalized anxiety disorder assessment (GAD-7) score of ≥10 were randomised to receive either an active VeNS device (n = 34) or a sham control device (n = 26). Both groups were asked to complete 20 stimulation sessions (30 min duration) at a rate of 3-5 sessions per week at a research clinic. The primary outcome was change in GAD-7 score from baseline to the end of study (when each participant finished their 20 stimulation sessions). Secondary outcomes were change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) scores (8 domains). Results: One participant allocated to the sham group withdrew from the study. The mean (SD) number of weeks it took to complete the 20 stimulation sessions was 5.8. The active group had a statistically greater reduction in GAD-7 score compared to the sham group (-7.4 versus -2.2, P < .001; respectively). A total of 97% (n = 33) of the active group achieved a clinically meaningful reduction (defined as ≥4-point reduction) in GAD-7 from baseline to the follow up visit compared to 24% (n = 6) of the sham group (P < .001). Additionally, the active group showed a significant improvement in ISI (-4.9 versus 2.2, P < .001) and greater improvements on all eight SF36 domains (P < .001) compared with the sham group. There was no device related reported adverse events. Conclusion: Regular non-invasive electrical vestibular nerve stimulation appears to have a clinically meaningful benefit when used as an intervention for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts individuals' communication and social interaction skills. Autistic children often have smaller N170 amplitudes in response to faces than neurotypical children. Autistic children also avoid the salient areas of the face. Technology-based interventions have been developed to teach autistic children how to recognise facial expressions, but the results have exhibited considerable variability across studies. The current study explored the effectiveness of an iPad app designed to support autistic children in recognising facial expressions by examining how participants process facial information through event-related potentials (ERP) and eye-tracking recordings. ERPs and eye tracking were recorded from 20 neurotypical and 15 autistic children aged between 6 and 12 years. The results replicated previous work, with the autistic group having smaller N170 and Vertex Positive Potential amplitudes and more scan time off the face when compared to non-autistic children. Following the intervention, some changes were observed in facial feature scanning among autistic participants, characterised by increased time spent on the face and decreased fixations. These findings add to the work, indicating that eye tracking may be a valuable biomarker for intervention outcomes in autism. Further research into N170 as a biomarker is needed.

ObjectivesWe aimed to clarify the occurrence pattern of icDCs (ictal direct-current shifts), its recording parameters, polarity, and amplitude and to elucidate whether icDCs correlated with histology and the resection of the core area of icDCs is associated with favorable outcomes. Methods We carried out a systematic review according to the PRISMA statement. We searched for studies describing intracranial direct current shift, intracranial slow potential shift (SPS), or intracranial infralow activity AND surgical outcome. Results There is a marked heterogenicity in the recording parameters of icDCs, and in the method of intracranial evaluation (SEEG, subdural electrodes or both); icDCs can be obtained in more than 90% of patients with epilepsy evaluated with intracranial electrodes and in more than 90% of the seizures; icDCs is an electrical phenomenon with very high amplitude, with positive or negative polarity and prolonged duration, seen before or during seizure onset; IcDCs are best recorded with a time constant of 10 s, and setting LFF at 0.01 to 0.016 Hz and variable HFF; it seems preferable to evaluate them with an epoch of 300 s. IcDCs are not specific to any subjacent pathology. icDCs increases the probability of being seizure-free by 30.5. Conclusion Infralow activity can be assessed during intracranial recording with sEEG or subdural electrodes. Infralow activity is a prolonged baseline shift, with a very high amplitude appearing before or with the seizure onset. This might not be related to the subjacent pathology, but it helps delineate the zone to remove.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are synucleinopathy syndromes with similar symptom profiles that are distinguished clinically based on the arbitrary rule of the time of symptom onset. Identifying reliable electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarkers would provide a precise method for better diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of treatment response in these two types of dementia. From April 2015 to March 2021, the records of new referrals to a neurology clinic were retrospectively reviewed and 28 DLB(70.3% male) and 20 PDD (80.8% male) patients with appropriate EEG were selected for this study. Artifact-free 60-s EEG signals (21 channels) at rest with eyes closed were analyzed using EEGLAB, and regional spectral power ratios were extracted. Marked diffuse slowing was found in DLB patients compared to PDD patients in all regions in terms of decrease in alpha and increase in theta band. Although, these findings demean between groups after adjusting for MMSE scores, the significant difference still remained in terms of the mean relative alpha powers, particularly in the anterior and central regions. QEEG measures may have the potential to discriminate between these two syndromes. However, further prospective and longitudinal studies are required to improve the early differentiation of these dementia syndromes and to elucidate the underlying causes and pathogenesis and specific treatment.

BackgroundLance-Adams Syndrome (LAS) is a rare neurological complication of hypoxic brain injury, characterized by action- and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus in patients who have regained consciousness. Although often misinterpreted as a sign of poor prognosis, LAS can lead to significant long-term disability but also shows potential for functional recovery with appropriate management.MethodologyA narrative review was conducted using a predefined search strategy across PubMed and ScienceDirect databases to identify peer-reviewed studies on LAS published between January 2000 and April 2025. A total of 47 studies were included in the final synthesis, comprising 34 case reports, 7 narrative or scoping reviews, 2 systematic reviews and 4 original clinical studies.ResultsThe pathophysiology of LAS remains multifactorial, involving cortical hyperexcitability, subcortical disinhibition, and neurotransmitter imbalances. Electroencephalographic and imaging studies provide important diagnostic clues. Management remains largely symptomatic, based on empirical evidence. Clonazepam and valproate remain first-line therapies, while agents such as perampanel, sodium oxybate, cannabidiol, and intrathecal baclofen have been trialed in refractory cases. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation plays a crucial role in long-term outcomes.ConclusionGreater awareness and earlier recognition of LAS can improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes. Despite its rarity, clinicians should remain alert to LAS as a potentially reversible disorder when appropriately diagnosed and managed. Standardized treatment guidelines remain a future priority.

This study investigated perceptual differences between adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and neurotypical individuals using a multidimensional approach involving quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), biomechanical analysis with Movement Element Decomposition (MED), and facial microexpression tracking via FaceReader software. The study included 22 adolescents (8 with ASD and 14 controls), evaluated under four experimental conditions: rest (eyes open and closed) and exposure to visual/auditory stimuli. Findings indicated increased Delta band activity in the ASD group, absence of Alpha band reactivity, greater postural instability, altered oscillation patterns, and a predominance of neutral emotional expressions. The results suggest that individuals with ASD exhibit distinct patterns of sensory, motor, and emotional processing, highlighting the potential of these tools as biomarkers for diagnosis and intervention.

ObjectiveThe present study investigated the neural correlates of cognitive control in youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid learning disability (N = 75, ages 11-17 years) who participated in a 20-week mindfulness martial arts intervention compared to a waitlist control.MethodEEG was recorded pre and post intervention during a blocked Go/NoGo task. Peak amplitude was measured for the inhibitory NoGo N2 and P3 ERP components.ResultsA significant group by time interaction was found for NoGo N2 amplitudes, indicating that waitlist control participants had significantly attenuated N2 amplitudes over time whereas the intervention group maintained similar levels of medial frontal activity during response inhibition. The maintenance of the individual differences in N2 amplitudes were robust in the intervention group.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that participation in mindfulness martial arts may buffer against reductions in N2 activity during adolescence for youth with ADHD.

Artifacts are a common occurrence during EEG recording and typically do not present a significant challenge to skilled neurophysiologists. However, in rare instances physiological electroencephalographic activity may closely mimic artifacts, potentially leading to missed or significantly delayed diagnosis. We report a case involving highly focal electrographic seizures initially recorded on a single electrode, posing a substantial diagnostic challenge. This delay in recognizing the seizures highlights the importance of careful EEG interpretation, especially in cases of unusual or subtle findings, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. We suggest using EEG arrays with a higher number of electrodes to improve spatial resolution or incorporating neuroimaging for correlation in such challenging cases.

Study ObjectivesVertex sharp waves(VSW) are sharply contoured waves with a duration of less than 500 mille-seconds and maximal over the central regions of the brain, that have been identified to appear during N1. Here we postulate that VSW are sleep stage-specific and can also identify a sleep stage shift to NREM sleep from REM sleep.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed PSG data of 20 out of 74 consecutive patients who were studied with 18-channel EEG within the last year. Vertex sharp waves were visually and manually scored and analyzed by sleep stage.ResultsTwenty patients(12 men, 60.0%) were analyzed. The median age was 37 years(95% CI 31.3-46.2 years) with a mean of 38.7 ± 14.4 years. Seventeen patients(85%) had VSW in both N1 and N2 sleep stage, only 6 patients(30%) had VSW in N3 sleep, and 10 patients(50%) in REM sleep. Regression analysis showed that the occurrence of VSW in N2 sleep(r² = 0.747,F = 44.366;p < 0.001) and REM sleep(r² = 0.473,F = 7.174; p = 0.028) was positively correlated with the presence of VSW in N1 sleep stage. The positive correlation during REM sleep was only spared for the VSW appearing following an arousal reaction(r² = 0.432, F = 5.329;p = 0.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that vertex sharp waves are state-dependent activities of NREM sleep, predominantly seen in N1 sleep stage, and also in N2 sleep. As they emerge in REM sleep, following an arousal reaction or not, it may be regarded as a sleep stage shift from REM to NREM sleep stage. These findings may help clarify scoring rules for REM sleep and arousal.