Epilepsy

Cognitive deficits are often seen in individuals with many different forms of epilepsy¹; these cognitive difficulties can impede educational and vocational outcomes².

Our recommended test battery for researching epilepsy incorporates six cognitive tests to comprehensively assess the key cognitive domains often impaired, as well as those likely to be affected by interventions.

The tests in this battery are sensitive to deleterious effects of different types of epilepsy on cognition across the lifespan^3-5.

Measures

• Executive function
• Sustained attention
• Episodic memory
• Working memory
• Processing speed
• Motor skills

CANTAB Tests

• Motor Screening Task (MOT): 2 minutes
• Reaction Time (RTI): 3 minutes
• Paired Associates Learning (PAL): 8 minutes
• Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP): 7 minutes
• Spatial Working Memory (SWM): 4 minutes
• One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (OTS): 10 minutes

Research

The tests in this battery have shown moderate to large impairments in memory and executive function in epilepsy.

_{Vintan et al., (2002)}

Key References

Loughman A, Bowden SC, D'Souza W. Cognitive functioning in idiopathic generalised epilepsies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Jun;43:20-34.

Cross JH. Neurodevelopmental effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Epilepsy Res. 2010 Jan;88(1):1-10.

Palade S, Benga I. Neuropsychological Impairments on the Cantab Test Battery: Case Reports of Children with Frontal and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Cognition, Brain, Behavior. 2007; 11(3):539-552.

Gutierrez-Galve L, Flugel D, Thompson PJ, Koepp MJ, Symms MR, Ron MA, Foong J. Cortical abnormalities and their cognitive correlates in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and interictal psychosis. Epilepsia. 2012 Jun;53(6):1077-87.  

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1. _{Loughman A, Bowden SC, D'Souza W. Cognitive functioning in idiopathic generalised epilepsies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Jun;43:20-34.}
2. _{Brooks-Kayal AR, Bath KG, Berg AT, Galanopoulou AS, Holmes GL, Jensen FE, Kanner AM, O'Brien TJ, Whittemore VH, Winawer MR, Patel M, Scharfman HE. Issues related to symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments affecting cognitive and neuropsychiatric comorbidities of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2013 Aug;54 Suppl 4:44-60.}
3. _{Torgersen JGR, Flaaten HK, Engelsen BA, Gramstad A. Clinical Validation of Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in a Norwegian Epilepsy Population. JBBS. 2012 Feb; 2(1):108-116.}
4. _{Palade S, Benga I. Neuropsychological Impairments on the Cantab Test Battery: Case Reports of Children with Frontal and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Cognition, Brain, Behavior. 2007; 11(3):539-552.}
5. _{Gutierrez-Galve L, Flugel D, Thompson PJ, Koepp MJ, Symms MR, Ron MA, Foong J. Cortical abnormalities and their cognitive correlates in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and interictal psychosis. Epilepsia. 2012 Jun;53(6):1077-87.}