The Application of Quantitative Electroencephalogram and Cognitive Evaluation in Childhood Epilepsy.

Kim,  Deok Soo

Review

Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society 2011;19(1):1-7.
Published online April 30, 2011.

The Application of Quantitative Electroencephalogram and Cognitive Evaluation in Childhood Epilepsy.

Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. dskim2@skku.edu

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction has been commonly reported in epilepsy and should be appropriately evaluated for children with epilepsy due to their developing cognition. Neuropsychological tests have been often performed to reveal the objective status of cognitive function. Advances in computer science has allowed quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to be widely used in various fields examining neuropsychiatric disorders. As such, we can investigate brain function through qEEG in a different manner and more fully understand the cortical network while performing tasks. Among qEEG methods, the frequency analysis is a method for looking at the mean or peak frequency, absolute or relative spectral power, and amplitude of each frequency band in the EEG. The qEEG analysis may help us evaluate cognitive dysfunction in childhood epilepsy, although some limitations and difficulties may exist.

Key Words: Cognition, Electroencephalography, Epilepsy, Neuropsychological tests