Neuropsychological EEG activation in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

We studied the effects of higher mental activity on the EEG, i.e., neuropsychological EEG activation (NPA), in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Thirty patients with JME underwent a conventional EEG recording and EEG recording during performance of a battery of twelve neuropsychological tasks, which involved decision making, reading, calculations, constructive activities and drawing. Twenty-three JME patients (76.6%) responded (i.e., showed EEG activation) to at least one neuropsychological task (p=0.003). Four neuropsychological tasks, two involving the use of the hands and two without manual involvement, were associated with a high frequency of EEG activation (40-60% of JME patients), although statistical analysis did not reveal any one test as the most significant for NPA activation. Neuropsychological EEG activation, using a variety of tasks both manual and non-manual, is a useful tool in evaluating patients with JME.