Specialists conducted a study that revealed the presence of slow waves in the brains of people with epilepsy even when they are awake.
Normally, these slow waves are observed during sleep.
The study shows that these slow waves could offer a protective effect against the heightened brain excitability often associated with epilepsy.
A new experiment
The study involved 25 patients with focal epilepsy who performed a memory task while their brain activity was measured using electrodes.
The specialists found that slow waves occurred in the brains of those with epilepsy while they were awake and engaged in the task.
During the study, it was observed that the occurrence of slow waves in the brains of people with epilepsy increased as their brain excitability levels rose.
This increase in slow waves helped to lessen the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity, which is a positive effect.
On the other hand, the presence of these slow waves had an impact on cognitive performance.
It resulted in an increase in the time needed to complete the given task.
While potentially protective against epileptic activity, these waves also had some drawbacks in terms of cognitive function.
Why it's important
According to the specialists, the cognitive difficulties and memory deficits commonly observed in people with epilepsy may be linked to the presence of these slow waves.
Furthermore, the study indicates that there is potential for future research to investigate whether increasing the occurrence of these slow waves could be a new and innovative approach to treating epilepsy.
By exploring ways to enhance this activity, scientists may discover novel therapeutic interventions for individuals living with epilepsy.
Previously, we talked about coping with seasonal depression.
