Habituation of the orienting reaction in patients with epileptogenic cerebral tumours.

A polygraphic study on resistance to habituation of the somatic, autonomic and EEG components of the orienting reaction elicited by a repetitive auditory stimulus was performed in 41 patients with epileptogenic cerebral tumours and in 128 matched subjects in three control groups. The study evidenced a significantly higher resistance to habituation of the orienting reaction in patients with epileptogenic cerebral tumours than in control subjects. The degree of habituation disturbances depended on the tumour site and size as well as on the electro-clinical form and frequency of seizures.