Title: Neurofeedback technique based on EEG desynchronization in pharmaco-resistant epilepsy

Dr. Angela Marchi

Abstract

Neurofeedback EEG (NFB) is a potential adjuvant treatment for patients withdrug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Neurofeedback training allows the patient to self-modulatebrain activity and has been shown to decrease seizure frequency in previous studies. This method is of interest in various neurological and psychiatric diseases and can lead to the improvement of mood disorders, which are frequently associated with epilepsy. PreviousNFB methods in epilepsy aimed to modulate sensorimotor rhythms (SMR) or slow cortical potentials (SCP). We propose an innovative EEG-NFB paradigm based on real-time estimation of EEG functional connectivity (FC) measured on the scalp-EEG (NFB-FC).

This paradigm has been developed based on previous studies from our group demonstrating:

- an increase in brain FC during the interictal period in DRE (for review see Bartolomei et al. 2017 and Lagarde et al., 2022).

- a decreased synchrony induced by VNS and tDCS as possible anti-epileptic mechanism in patients with good response (for review see Carron et al., 2022, Simula et al., 2022)

We propose a randomized, double-blind comparison of NFB-FC versus sham NFB (control), including 20 drug-resistant epileptic patients recruited in the epileptology department of the Timone hospital.

Aix-Marseille Université
INS - Faculté de Médecine, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin
Marseille, 13005, France

Salle 52