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A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
Published on: November 13, 2016
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Sleep disruption is not observed with brain-responsive neurostimulation for epilepsy
Leslie Ruoff1, Beata Jarosiewicz2, Rochelle Zak3
1San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System San Francisco CA USA.
Epilepsia Open
|June 12, 2020
Summary
Brain-responsive neurostimulation (RNS System) did not disrupt sleep in epilepsy patients. Arousal peaks occurred just before stimulation, suggesting RNS may offer a sleep advantage over other neurostimulation methods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epilepsy Research
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Neurostimulation is used for refractory epilepsy, but its impact on sleep is unclear.
- Some devices like vagus nerve stimulation and thalamic deep brain stimulation can negatively affect sleep.
- The RNS System's effect on sleep remains unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the RNS System on sleep in patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy.
- To determine if brain-responsive neurostimulation causes sleep disruption.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnography (PSG) was performed on six adults with epilepsy treated with the RNS System.
- Sleep stages and arousals were analyzed using standard guidelines.
- Stimulations were identified by EEG artifacts during PSG.
Main Results:
- Five subjects completed the PSG; one was excluded due to technical issues.
- Fragmented sleep and frequent arousals were observed in the participants.
- A significant peak in arousals occurred just before RNS System stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Brain-responsive neurostimulation (RNS System) did not appear to disrupt sleep in this small cohort.
- This finding suggests a potential clinical benefit of the RNS System over other neurostimulation devices.
- Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
