Mustafa Al-Azawe, Florencio Gobellan, Kathryn King, Christos Papadelis / Psychology / Faculty Mentor: Crystal Cooper
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal brain activity causing seizures. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are a functional neurological disorder characterized by seizure-like episodes without epileptic activity. Both seizure disorders are often linked to psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. Differentiating between epilepsy, PNES, and the role of psychopathology is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
This study examines resting-state brain activity in children with epilepsy and PNES using magnetoencephalography (MEG), comparing both groups to typically developing healthy controls (TD), aged 10-19 years old. We also explore role of differences between focal and generalized epilepsy and how brain activity relates to psychiatric symptoms.
Participants underwent 10 minutes of resting-state MEG recordings (5 minutes eyes open, 5 minutes eyes closed), and psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Resting-state spectral power across frequency bands will be analyzed using independent-sample t-tests, while Pearson correlation analyses will evaluate links between spectral power and psychiatric symptoms.
By identifying distinct neural patterns associated with epilepsy and PNES, this research aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide more effective treatment strategies for children with seizure disorders and related psychiatric conditions.
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