RE is the most common form of childhood epilepsy. It is caused by the hyperexcitability of a system of neurons in only one hemisphere without apparent brain injury or cerebral structural abnormalities (Capovilla et al., 2009), it is usually well controlled by medication and seizures disappear by adolescence. Although RE is still officially considered as a benign syndrome without cognitive impairments (Berg et Scheffer, 2011), a growing body of literature highlights the existence of a wide range of cognitive deficits (Sarco et al., 2011; Baglietto et al., 2001; Metz-Lutz et Filippini, 2006; Weglage, Demsky, Pietsch, et Kurlemann, 1997). In RE, we know that abnormal epileptic activity is found in central and temporal regions of the brain.
We aim to realize:
1. an exhaustive neuropsychological and behavioral investigation of children with RE. A standard neuropsychological assessment is conducted for each child and their parents have to complete behavioral and affective questionnaires.
2. Structural and functional cerebral imaging (MRI)
3. Electrophysiology (EEG) to assess Visual Working Memory and Attention (SPCN, N2pc), and executive functioning (N2-stop).
We hypothesize that developmental abnormality will be observed in the brain structure, electric activity and tissues, detectable at the onset of RE and cognitive impairments. In addition, we believe that the importance of neuroanatomical and electrophysiological abnormalities will be correlated with the severity of the epilepsy and cognitive deficits.
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