Alterations of theta oscillation in executive control in temporal lobe epilepsy patients

Attention dysfunction, especially executive control has been investigated within many types of diseases of the central nervous system. The present study aims to clarify alterations of the executive control (EC) network in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Twenty patients with TLE and 20 matched healthy control subjects participated in the attention network test (ANT), and scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were set up. The ANT was used to evaluate attention network behavior deficits. Power spectral density (PSD), coherence and correlation were used to detect power and oscillation alterations of attention network in patients with TLE. The most significant differences in executive control were found between patients with TLE and healthy control subjects. Power spectral density in the theta band, and coherence and correlation in the theta band in the frontal area were decreased in patients with TLE. Our results indicate that patients with TLE have severe attention dysfunction, especially in executive control. In addition, brain theta oscillation impairment in frontal area might be connected with poor executive control behavior. These findings will provide new insight into diagnosing and treating patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.