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. 2011 Feb;52(2):377-85.
doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02787.x. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

Deficits in oculomotor performance in pediatric epilepsy

Miya R Asato  1 , Natalie Nawarawong, Bruce Hermann, Patricia Crumrine, Beatriz Luna
Affiliations

Deficits in oculomotor performance in pediatric epilepsy

Miya R Asato et al. Epilepsia. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Given evidence of limitations in neuropsychological performance in epilepsy, we probed the integrity of components of cognition--including speed of processing, response inhibition, and spatial working memory--supporting executive function in pediatric epilepsy patients and matched controls.

Methods: A total of 44 pairs of controls and medically treated pediatric epilepsy patients with no known brain pathology completed cognitive oculomotor tasks, computerized neuropsychological testing, and psychiatric assessment.

Key findings: Patients showed slower reaction time to initiate a saccadic response compared to controls but had intact saccade accuracy. Cognitively driven responses including response inhibition were impaired in the patient group. Patients had increased incidence of comorbid psychopathology, but comorbidity did not predict worse functioning compared to patients with no Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Epilepsy type and medication status were not predictive of outcome. More complex neuropsychological performance was impaired in tasks requiring visual memory and sequential processing, which was correlated with inhibitory control and antisaccade accuracy.

Significance: Pediatric epilepsy may be associated with vulnerabilities that specifically undermine speed of processing and response inhibition but not working memory, and may underlie known neuropsychological performance limitations. This particular profile of abnormalities may be associated with seizure-mediated compromises in brain maturation early in development.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antisaccade performance by group, showing impaired performance in the patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of comorbid ADHD in the patient group, compared to control group, demonstrating non-significant differences in performance in patients with comorbid ADHD compared to patients without the diagnosis of ADHD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Developmental effects of age group on antisaccade performance. Response inhibition errors decreased in both groups, with more significant patient-control performance discrepancies at younger age group comparisons.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Developmental effects of age group on memory guided saccade performance. Accuracy of saccades as a marker of spatial working memory showed developmental improvement in both groups, with no significant age group × group (patient/control) interaction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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