Analysis of multichannel EEG synchronization before and during generalized epileptic seizures

Abstract

The genesis of seizures in idiopatic generalized epilepsy (IGE) is investigated in a population of 10 patients (5 affected by Juvenile Absence Epilepsy, or JAE, and 5 affected by Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, or JME). Aim of the study is the identification of a talamic or cortical origin of the paroxistic activity. The mutual synchronization among EEG channels was evaluated trough the cross conditional corrected entropy (CCCE) calculated on the row signals and after the application of the Laplacian operator. In JAE patients a leading role of the left frontal lobe was put into evidence in correspondence of the seizure, while in JME patients a leading electrode was not identified, suggesting a possible talamic origin of the seizure.