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Reaction time, attention, and impulsivity in epilepsy.
W G Mitchell1, Y Zhou, J M Chavez
1Department of Neurology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Pediatric Neurology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Children with epilepsy show slower reaction times and inattention compared to healthy peers. These cognitive deficits, including slower processing speed, are not linked to seizure severity or treatment, suggesting underlying neurological factors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Epilepsy in children can impact cognitive functions.
- Understanding attention, reaction time, and impulsivity is crucial for managing childhood epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate reaction time, attention, and impulsivity in children with epilepsy.
- To compare cognitive performance between children with epilepsy and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a computerized test to assess simple, forced choice, and choice reaction times with distraction.
- Measured response variability, omission errors, and commission errors.
- Included 112 children with epilepsy (4.5-13 years) and age-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Children with epilepsy were significantly slower, more variable, and made more omission errors than controls.
- These deficits persisted even in children with IQ > 90.
- No significant increase in commission (impulsive) errors was observed in children with epilepsy.
- Reaction times correlated with IQ but not seizure severity or medication duration.
- Untreated patients showed significant differences compared to normal patients.
Conclusions:
- Children with epilepsy exhibit significant slowing of reaction time and inattention.
- These cognitive deficits are not significantly related to seizure history or antiepileptic drug treatment.
- Impulsivity was not a significant deficit in this cohort.