OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of altered brain connectivity in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). METHODS: Patients with PNES and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Participants underwent neuropsychological evaluation (anxiety, depression and dissociation) and interictal scalp electroencephalography (EEG). A brain network was constructed. Between-group differences in clustering coefficient and global efficiency were analysed. RESULTS: Patients with PNES (n = 15) had significantly decreased clustering coefficients in the gamma band compared with controls (n = 15). Difference topology revealed that patients with PNES had decreased long linkage between the frontal region and other regions compared with controls. There were no significant between-group differences in global efficiency. Neuropsychological scores were significantly higher in patients than controls, but there were no correlations with network properties. CONCLUSION: Altered brain connectivity in patients with PNES suggests an underlying pathophysiological mechanism. EEG and network analysis allow noninvasive exploration of the neurological processes of this disease.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of altered brain connectivity in patients with psychogenic non-epilepticseizures (PNES). METHODS:Patients with PNES and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Participants underwent neuropsychological evaluation (anxiety, depression and dissociation) and interictal scalp electroencephalography (EEG). A brain network was constructed. Between-group differences in clustering coefficient and global efficiency were analysed. RESULTS:Patients with PNES (n = 15) had significantly decreased clustering coefficients in the gamma band compared with controls (n = 15). Difference topology revealed that patients with PNES had decreased long linkage between the frontal region and other regions compared with controls. There were no significant between-group differences in global efficiency. Neuropsychological scores were significantly higher in patients than controls, but there were no correlations with network properties. CONCLUSION: Altered brain connectivity in patients with PNES suggests an underlying pathophysiological mechanism. EEG and network analysis allow noninvasive exploration of the neurological processes of this disease.
Authors: Giuseppe Varone; Wadii Boulila; Michele Lo Giudice; Bilel Benjdira; Nadia Mammone; Cosimo Ieracitano; Kia Dashtipour; Sabrina Neri; Sara Gasparini; Francesco Carlo Morabito; Amir Hussain; Umberto Aguglia Journal: Sensors (Basel) Date: 2021-12-25 Impact factor: 3.576