Neurophysiological signatures reflect differences in visual attention during absence seizures

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 152; pp. 34 - 42
• Main Authors: Barone, Valentina, Piastra, Maria Carla, van Dijk, Johannes P., Visser, Gerhard H., Debeij-van Hall, Mariette H.J.A., van Putten, Michel J.A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Absence epilepsy; Absence seizures; Brain; Child; EEG; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Absence - diagnosis; Eye tracking; Frontal eye field; Frontal Lobe; Humans; Seizures; Visual attention; Absence seizures; Frontal eye field; Absence epilepsy; Visual attention; Eye tracking; EEG
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.05.007

•Absence seizures affect visual attention and eye movements variably.•Deficits in visual attention during absences are associated with differences in EEG features and network activation.•Our findings can be employed in clinical practice for tailored risk assessment in patients. Absences affect visual attention and eye movements variably. Here, we explore whether the dissimilarity of these symptoms during absences is reflected in differences in electroencephalographic (EEG) features, functional connectivity, and activation of the frontal eye field. Pediatric patients with absences performed a computerized choice reaction time task, with simultaneous recording of EEG and eye-tracking. We quantified visual attention and eye movements with reaction times, response correctness, and EEG features. Finally, we studied brain networks involved in the generation and propagation of seizures. Ten pediatric patients had absences during the measurement. Five patients had preserved eye movements (preserved group) and five patients showed disrupted eye movements (unpreserved group) during seizures. Source reconstruction showed a stronger involvement of the right frontal eye field during absences in the unpreserved group than in the preserved group (dipole fraction 1.02% and 0.34%, respectively, p < 0.05). Graph analysis revealed different connection fractions of specific channels. The impairment of visual attention varies among patients with absences and is associated with differences in EEG features, network activation, and involvement of the right frontal eye field. Assessing the visual attention of patients with absences can be usefully employed in clinical practice for tailored advice to the individual patient.