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Exploring Cognitive Functions in Babies, Children & Adults with Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: July 28, 2009
NIRS-measured oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin changes associated with EEG spike-and-wave discharges in children
Nadège Roche-Labarbe1, Boubker Zaaimi, Patrick Berquin
1GRAMFC, Faculté de Médecine, UPJV, Amiens, France. nadege.roche@u-picardie.fr
Insights
Generalized spike-and-wave discharges in absence epilepsy are linked to frontal hemodynamic changes, including oxygenation and deoxygenation, as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This study used NIRS alongside EEG to investigate these metabolic/hemodynamic aspects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Absence epilepsy is characterized by generalized spike-and-wave discharges (GSWD) and behavioral arrest.
- Cognitive delays are common, even in benign childhood absence epilepsy.
- The metabolic and hemodynamic aspects of GSWD remain largely unestablished.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between GSWD and hemodynamic changes.
- To utilize near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for high temporal resolution measurements.
- To explore the metabolic/hemodynamic underpinnings of absence epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and left frontal NIRS recordings were performed in six children with GSWD.
- NIRS measured changes in oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentrations.
- Cardiac and respiratory rates were monitored to assess their relationship with GSWD.
Main Results:
- GSWD were associated with frontal oxygenation preceding the discharge, followed by deoxygenation, and subsequent re-oxygenation with increased total hemoglobin.
- Hemodynamic changes began approximately 10 seconds before the GSWD onset.
- No significant relationship was found between GSWD onset and heart or respiratory rates.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a complex hemodynamic response associated with GSWD, differing from previous studies possibly due to NIRS's temporal resolution.
- Simultaneous EEG and NIRS acquisition enhances the understanding of GSWD mechanisms.
- This approach offers insights into the pathophysiology of absence epilepsy.
Purpose:
Absence epilepsy is characterized by 3-Hz generalized spike-and-wave discharges (GSWD) on the electroencephalogram, associated with behavioral arrest. It may be severe, and even in childhood benign absence epilepsy cognitive delay is frequent, yet the metabolic/hemodynamic aspects of this kind of epilepsy have not been established. We aimed to determine if the GSWD were related to hemodynamic changes by using a new technique with high temporal resolution: near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Methods:
NIRS is gaining acceptance as a technique particularly suitable for routine follow-up in children, using the specific absorption properties of living tissues in the near infrared range to measure changes in the concentrations of oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin (HbO(2), HHb, and HbT, respectively). We performed simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and left frontal NIRS recordings in six children with GSWD. We also tested if the discharges were related to changes in cardiac or respiratory rates.
Results:
GSWD were associated in the frontal area with an oxygenation (beginning 10 s before the GSWD) followed by strong deoxygenation, then oxygenation again with [HbT] increase, and a return to baseline. We did not identify any relationship between the onset of the GSWD and heart or respiratory rates.
Discussion:
Our results partially differ from previous studies on GSWD hemodynamic aspects (many of which described a simple deactivation), probably due to differences in temporal resolution and data processing. Simultaneous acquisition of EEG and NIRS can optimize the use of both techniques and help shed light on the mechanisms underlying spike-and-wave discharges.
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