Abstract

Aim: trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) induces an antiepileptic effect in experimentally induced epileptic animals, and a significant reduction seizures frequency in refractory partial epilepsy (RPE) patients. As far as we know, no information is yet available on the influence exerted by acute TNS on EEG activity of humans. We investigated the TNS effects on EEG activity of healthy subjects and RPE patients. Methods: ten patients and five healthy subjects were enrolled. Digital EEG signal was acquired before, during and after unilateral and bilateral non-painful TNS. EEG spectral analysis was performed. ANOVA for repeated measures was conducted to compare data before and after TNS. Relative power was represented with topographic maps to characterize the regional differences. Results: In healthy subjects the general power spectra was significantly increased following TNS, compared to baseline recording. In patients, a significant increase of mean frequency (mF) (p<0.01) and of fast activity (p<0.05) and significant decrease of theta band (p<0.01) during post-stimulus intervals compared to baseline were found. The most relevant TNS-induced EEG changes were localized at frontal-temporal derivations (theta power reduction p<0.0001; mF increase p<0.0002 ), where the epileptic foci were sited.
Conclusions: Short-term TNS desynchronises EEG activity in RPE patients. This novel finding opens new prospects in research of safe alternative non-pharmacological RPE treatments.

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