Electrodermal activity response during seizures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Epilepsy research
• Wearable technology
• Biomedical signal processing

Background:

• Continuous seizure monitoring is crucial in epilepsy research.
• Wearable devices offer a non-invasive method for data collection.
• Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a key physiological parameter measurable by these devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and estimate the incidence of electrodermal response during epileptic seizures.
• To synthesize findings from studies combining electrodermal activity (EDA) and electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring.
• To assess the detectability of electrodermal responses in pre-ictal, ictal, and postictal phases.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for studies recording concurrent EDA and EEG.
• Inclusion of studies in children and adults with epilepsy.
• Random-effects meta-analysis of pooled EDA response incidence.

Main Results:

• Nineteen studies comprising 550 participants and 1115 seizures were analyzed.
• A pooled electrodermal response incidence of 82% (95% CI 70-91) was observed across seizures.
• Tonic-clonic seizures showed more pronounced EDA responses compared to focal seizures.

Conclusions:

• Epileptic seizures consistently elicit detectable electrodermal responses.
• Wearable devices can capture these electrodermal responses across seizure phases.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate factors influencing EDA changes during seizures.