Social cognition in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Contribution of neuroimaging to the understanding of social cognition in epilepsy

This narrative review aims to identify and summarize existing research to better understand the pathophysiological and neuroanatomical bases of social cognition deficits in people with epilepsy. The neuroanatomical basis of social cognition was primarily examined in healthy subjects. In healthy individuals, social cognition is supported by a complex network of interconnected brain regions. Facial emotion recognition relies on a distributed set of structures, including the occipitotemporal neocortex, the temporoparietal and prefrontal areas, and the putamen with a pivotal role of the amygdala. Theory of mind primarily involves the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction, while empathy engages the anterior insular and cingulate cortices. In people with epilepsy, most functional neuroimaging studies have focused on facial emotion recognition, primarily in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Nevertheless, across various domains of social cognition, abnormal activations and disrupted connectivity within social cognition networks are consistently observed, regardless of the focus location. Aberrant connectivity has also been noted in the few studies involving patients with generalized epilepsy. In focal epilepsy, the amygdala remains a central region for facial emotion recognition, irrespective of whether the epilepsy is localized to the temporal or frontal lobes. For theory of mind studies, regions typically identified in healthy individuals, such as the medial prefrontal cortex, exhibit either hyperactivation or reduced activation in people with focal epilepsy, complicating interpretation. In the domain of empathy, a study involving patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy reported decreased activation in core regions commonly identified in healthy individuals, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula. The limited data available in the literature suggest that key regions shared between social cognition and epilepsy networks consistently contribute to these disruptions and may serve as potential targets for future neuromodulation interventions.

Comparative analysis of processing speed impairments in TLE, FLE, and GGE: Theoretical insights and clinical Implications

In this narrative review, we explore the differences in processing speed (PS) impairments among three epilepsy conditions; Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE) and Genetic Generalized Epilepsy (GGE) with a focus on Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME). Despite the large body of research focusing on cognition in epilepsy, the intricacies of PS impairments in the epilepsy syndromes have not been fully explored. We investigate the cognitive profiles with focus on PS associated with each of the three conditions, and the neuropsychological methods employed. Furthermore, we evaluate PS in epilepsy within the theoretical frameworks of PS, such as the Relative Consequence Model, the Limited Time Mechanism Model, and the Neural Noise Hypothesis. We find the main challenge of PS research in epilepsy is the inconsistency of assessment methods utilized in different studies. Furthermore, PS impairments are not isolated but rather interconnected to other cognitive domains. Thus, future studies need to standardize PS assessment tools, and incorporate innovative solutions such as technology and neuroimaging techniques to further enhance our understanding of PS impairments in epilepsy.

Theory of mind in epilepsy

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, chronic, and unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy has a significant negative impact on a patient's quality of life even if seizures are well controlled. In addition to the distress caused by seizures, patients with epilepsy (PwE) may suffer from cognitive impairment with serious social consequences such as poor interpersonal relationships, loss of employment, and reduced social networks. Pathological changes and functional connectivity abnormalities observed in PwE can disrupt the neural network responsible for the theory of mind. Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states to other people (intentions, beliefs, and emotions). It is a complex aspect of social cognition and includes cognitive and affective constructs. In recent years, numerous studies have assessed the relationship between social cognition, including the theory of mind, in PwE, and suggested impairment in this domain. Interventions targeting the theory of mind can be potentially helpful in improving the quality of life of PwE.

Altered effective connectivity of the default mode network in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is associated with brain dysconnectivity in the default mode network (DMN). Most previous studies of patients with JME have assessed static functional connectivity in terms of the temporal correlation of signal intensity among different brain regions. However, more recent studies have shown that the directionality of brain information flow has a more significant regional impact on patients' brains than previously assumed in the present study. Here, we introduced an empirical approach incorporating independent component analysis (ICA) and spectral dynamic causal modeling (spDCM) analysis to study the variation in effective connectivity in DMN in JME patients. We began by collecting resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 37 patients and 37 matched controls. Then, we selected 8 key nodes within the DMN using ICA; finally, the key nodes were analyzed for effective connectivity using spDCM to explore the information flow and detect patient abnormalities. This study found that compared with normal subjects, patients with JME showed significant changes in the effective connectivity among the precuneus, hippocampus, and lingual gyrus (p < 0.05 with false discovery rate (FDR) correction) with most of the effective connections being strengthened. In addition, previous studies have found that the self-connection of normal subjects' nodes showed strong inhibition, but the self-connection inhibition of the anterior cingulate cortex and lingual gyrus of the patient was decreased in this experiment (p < 0.05 with FDR correction); as the activity in these areas decreased, the nodes connected to them all appeared abnormal. We believe that the changes in the effective connectivity of nodes within the DMN are accompanied by changes in information transmission that lead to changes in brain function and impaired cognitive and executive function in patients with JME. Overall, our findings extended the dysconnectivity hypothesis in JME from static to dynamic causal and demonstrated that aberrant effective connectivity may underlie abnormal brain function in JME patients at early phase of illness, contributing to the understanding of the pathogenesis of JME.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-023-09994-4.

Social cognition in Idiopathic generalised epilepsies

Social cognition is a set of mental skills necessary to create satisfactory interpersonal relationships and feel a sense of belonging to a social group. Its deficits significantly reduce the quality of life in people with epilepsy. Studies on social cognition and its impairments focus predominantly on people with focal epilepsies. Idiopathic generalised epilepsies are a group of diseases that share similar clinical, prognostic and electrographic characteristics. Despite their typically normal intelligence, people with Idiopathic generalised epilepsies can suffer from learning disabilities and executive dysfunctions. Current studies also suggest social cognition impairments, but their results are inconsistent. This review offers the latest knowledge of social cognition in adults with Idiopathic generalised epilepsies. In addition, we provide an overview of the most frequently used assessment methods. We explain possible reasons for different outcomes and discuss future research perspectives.

Assessing social cognition in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls using the reading the mind in the eyes test (RMET): a systematic review and meta-regression

The reading the mind in the eyes test (RMET) - which assesses the theory of mind component of social cognition - is often used to compare social cognition between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. There is, however, no systematic review integrating the results of these studies. We identified 198 studies published before July 2020 that administered RMET to patients with schizophrenia or healthy controls from three English-language and two Chinese-language databases. These studies included 41 separate samples of patients with schizophrenia (total n = 1836) and 197 separate samples of healthy controls (total n = 23 675). The pooled RMET score was 19.76 (95% CI 18.91-20.60) in patients and 25.53 (95% CI 25.19-25.87) in controls (z = 12.41, p < 0.001). After excluding small-sample outlier studies, this difference in RMET performance was greater in studies using non-English v. English versions of RMET (Chi [Q] = 8.54, p < 0.001). Meta-regression analyses found a negative association of age with RMET score and a positive association of years of schooling with RMET score in both patients and controls. A secondary meta-analysis using a spline construction of 180 healthy control samples identified a non-monotonic relationship between age and RMET score - RMET scores increased with age before 31 and decreased with age after 31. These results indicate that patients with schizophrenia have substantial deficits in theory of mind compared with healthy controls, supporting the construct validity of RMET as a measure of social cognition. The different results for English versus non-English versions of RMET and the non-monotonic relationship between age and RMET score highlight the importance of the language of administration of RMET and the possibility that the relationship of aging with theory of mind is different from the relationship of aging with other types of cognitive functioning.

Gender differences in quality of life and psychiatric comorbidities among persons with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: A single-center cross-sectional study

Objectives

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common idiopathic generalized/genetic epilepsy syndrome. Gender differences are known in clinical presentation, with a well-identified female predilection. We aimed to study gender-based differences in quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric comorbidities among persons with JME.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a teaching hospital in Delhi, India. Persons above 11 years of age with JME diagnosed according to the International League Against Epilepsy criteria established in 2001 were enrolled. QoL assessment was made using Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-Adolescents-48 (QOLIE-AD-48) and Patient-Weighted Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31-P) for adolescent and adult patients, respectively. For the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities, participants were administered the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I). Participants who tested positive for psychiatric comorbidities on M.I.N.I subsequently underwent the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 categorization.

Results

We enrolled 50 patients with JME. Eighteen (36%) were male and 32 (64%) were female patients. The median age of males at study enrollment was 23.5 (range 15-38) years. The median age of females was 22 (16-48) years. The median QOLIE-31-P score among males was 68.31 (37.13-91.82) and for females was 66.9 (31.7-99.1). The median overall QoL score for males was 65 (25-87.5), which qualified as "fair" QoL. For females, the median overall QoL score was 62.5 (10-87.5) which also qualified as "fair" QoL. No significant difference was noted between genders in QoL (P = 0.723). Among males, 55.5% had psychiatric comorbidity. Of these, two had mild depression and eight had anxiety. Among female patients, 34.4% had comorbid psychiatric issues; 6 had anxiety and 5 had depression. No significant difference was noted between genders (P = 0.9136).

Conclusion

Persons with JME do not have gender-stratified differences in terms of psychiatric comorbidities and QoL despite differences in exposure to antiseizure medications and other gender-related factors. All persons with JME should be screened for psychiatric comorbidities, specifically anxiety, and depression.

Facial Emotion Recognition in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Previous studies have found facial emotion recognition (FER) impairments in individuals with epilepsy. While such deficits have been extensively explored in individuals with focal temporal lobe epilepsy, studies on individuals with generalized epilepsies are rare. However, studying FER specifically in individuals with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is particularly interesting since they frequently suffer from social and neuropsychological difficulties in addition to epilepsy-specific symptoms. Furthermore, recent brain imaging studies have shown subtle microstructural alterations in individuals with JME. FER is considered a fundamental social skill that relies on a distributed neural network, which could be disturbed by network dysfunction in individuals with JME. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine FER and social adjustment in individuals with JME. It included 27 patients with JME and 27 healthy controls. All subjects underwent an Ekman-60 Faces Task to examine FER and neuropsychological tests to assess social adjustment as well as executive functions, intelligence, depression, and personality traits. Individuals with JME performed worse in global FER and fear and surprise recognition than healthy controls. However, probably due to the small sample size, no significant difference was found between the two groups. A potential FER impairment needs to be confirmed in further studies with larger sample size. If so, patients with JME could benefit from addressing possible deficits in FER and social difficulties when treated. By developing therapeutic strategies to improve FER, patients could be specifically supported with the aim of improving social outcomes and quality of life.

Faux-Pas Recognition Test: A Turkish adaptation study and a proposal of a standardized short version

Faux Pas Recognition Test (FPRT) is one of the most commonly used tools to assess the theory of mind (ToM) and a valid and reliable screening of this social cognitive function in both clinical and research settings is essential. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the FPRT on a healthy Turkish sample and to develop a shorter form with adequate psychometric properties to provide an easier application for the tester by shortening the test's duration of administration. Four hundred sixteen healthy individuals completed the Turkish version of the FPRT. Addenbrooke's Cognitive Evaluation-Revised form (ACE-R) was given to the participants who were over 60 years of age in order to eliminate the adverse effects of a potential cognitive decline on FPRT performance. Effects of psychological symptoms on FPRT performance were controlled with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Both the original and short versions of the test showed good psychometric properties: for the original version internal consistency reliability was 0.94 for faux-pas (FP) stories and 0.92 for control stories; for the short version it was 0.92 for FP stories and was 0.93 for control stories. For the original version of the FPRT; inter-rater reliability was 0.88 for FP stories and was 0.96 for control stories. Split-half reliability was 0.78 for FP stories and was 0.85 for control stories. Gender and age comparisons were carried out. Results revealed that women had significantly higher total scores than men in three measures of FPRT.

Toward social neuropsychology of epilepsy: a meta-analysis on social cognition in epilepsy phenotypes and a critical narrative review on assessment methods

Background

The aim of this review is to (a) characterize social cognition impairments in the domains of emotion recognition (ER) and theory of mind (ToM) in patients with epilepsy and (b) to review assessment tools with a focus on their validity and usability in clinical practice.

Methods

An electronic search for clinical studies investigating social cognition in epilepsy populations vs healthy control subjects (HC) yielded 53 studies for the meta-analysis and descriptive review.

Results

Results suggest that (1) social cognition is significantly impaired in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and patients with epilepsy not originating within the temporal or frontal lobes including idiopathic generalized epilepsies (eTLE/eFLE); (2) there is no significant difference between eTLE/eFLE and TLE regarding ER, while TLE and FLE patients perform worse than those with eTLE/eFLE, without significant differences between FLE and TLE regarding ToM ability. A descriptive analysis of the most commonly used assessment tools and stimulus material in this field revealed a lack of ecological validity, usability, and economic viability for everyday clinical practice.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis shows that patients with epilepsy are at a significantly increased risk of deficits in social cognition. However, the underlying multifactorial mechanisms remain unclear. Future research should therefore specifically address the impairment of processing and methodological problems of testing.

Understanding frontal lobe function in epilepsy: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy vs. frontal lobe epilepsy

AIM

To compare neuropsychological function in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) since frontal circuitry is involved in both conditions. By drawing on previously theory-guided hypotheses and findings, a particular emphasis is placed on the way different cognitive-pathophysiological mechanisms act upon to produce frontal dysfunction in JME (frontal-executive and attention-related problems: vigilance, reaction times, processing speed, and response inhibition) and in FLE (reflecting the coproduct of the functional deficit zone), respectively.

METHODS

A total of 16 patients with JME, 34 patients with FLE, and 48 normal controls, all matched for age and education, were administered a comprehensive battery of tests to assess frontal-executive functions, as well as attention, memory, and learning domains. Participants did not take medications other than antiepileptics or have a psychiatric history.

RESULTS

Patients with FLE overall showed worse neuropsychological performance compared to both JME and HCs. With respect to JME, patients with FLE did significantly worse in measures of verbal and nonverbal executive function, short-term-, and long-term- auditory-verbal memory and learning, immediate and delayed episodic recall, visual attention and motor function, visuo-motor coordination and psychomotor speed, speed of visual information processing, and vocabulary. Patients with JME performed significantly worse compared to FLE only in associative semantic processing, while the former outperformed all groups in vocabulary, visuomotor coordination, and psychomotor speed.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that selective impairments of visual- and mostly auditory-speed of information processing, vigilance, and response inhibition may represent a salient neuropsychological feature in JME. These findings suggest the existence of an aberrantly working executive-attention system, secondary to pathological reticulo-thalamo-cortical dynamics. Contrariwise, cortically (frontal and extra-frontal) and subcortically induced malfunction in FLE is determined by the functional deficit zone i.e., the ensemble of cortical and subcortical areas that are functionally abnormal between seizures.

School performance and psychiatric comorbidity in juvenile absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: a Danish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine school performance and psychiatric comorbidity in juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) alone.

METHODS

All children (< 18 years) fulfilled International League Against Epilepsy criteria after review of their medical records. Control groups were the pediatric background population or children with non-neurological chronic disease. Outcomes were on school performance and psychiatric comorbidity. We compared mean grade point averages using linear regression and estimated hazard ratios using Cox regression in the remaining analyses. We adjusted for the child's sex, age, and year of birth; and parental highest education, receipt of cash benefits or early retirement.

RESULTS

We included 92 JAE, 190 JME, 27 GTCS alone, 15,084 non-neurological chronic disease controls, and population controls. JAE had two times increased hazard for special needs education compared with age-matched population controls (hazard ratio 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1‒4.6, p = 0.03); this was not seen in JME. Compared with population controls, both JAE and JME had lower grade point average in secondary and high school (JME: 9th grade:  - 0.5 points, 95% CI = -0.9 to -0.06, p = 0.03; high school:  - 0.6 points, 95% CI = -1.3 to -0.1, p = 0.04), and 8% fewer JME and 15% fewer JAE attended high school. Both JME and JAE had higher hazard for redeeming sleep medication compared with non-neurological chronic disease; additionally, JAE had increased hazard for ADHD medicine redemptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Both JAE and JME had marginally poorer school performance; performance seemed worse in JAE than in JME. Both JAE and JME had increased use of sleep medication.

Genetic generalized epilepsies in adults - challenging assumptions and dogmas

Genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) syndromes start during childhood or adolescence, and four commonly persist into adulthood, making up 15-20% of all cases of epilepsy in adults. These four GGE syndromes are childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone. However, in ~20% of patients with GGE, characteristics of more than one syndrome are present. Novel insights into the genetic aetiology, comorbidities and prognosis of the GGE syndromes have emerged and challenge traditional concepts about these conditions. Evidence has shown that the mode of inheritance in GGE is mostly polygenic. Neuropsychological and imaging studies indicate similar abnormalities in unaffected relatives of patients with GGE, supporting the concept that underlying alterations in bilateral frontothalamocortical networks are genetically determined. Contrary to popular belief, first-line anti-seizure medication often fails to provide seizure freedom in combination with good tolerability. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up studies have shown that with advancing age, many patients can discontinue their anti-seizure medication without seizure relapses. Several outcome predictors have been identified, but prognosis across the syndromes is more homogeneous than previously assumed. Overall, overlap in pathophysiology, seizure types, treatment responses and outcomes support the idea that GGEs are not separate nosological entities but represent a neurobiological continuum.

Theory of Mind and Empathy in Adults With Epilepsy: A Meta-Analysis

Mounting evidence suggests that social cognitive abilities [including theory of mind (ToM) and empathy] are impaired in adult patients with epilepsy. Although the deficits in overall ToM in epilepsy have been documented well, the effects of epilepsy on empathic ability and specific subcomponents of ToM remain unclear. The primary aim of this study was to provide the first meta-analytic integration of ToM and empathy in adult patients with epilepsy, and to decompose these constructs to clearly differentiate their distinct (cognitive ToM and affective empathy) and overlapping (affective ToM/cognitive empathy) components. This meta-analysis included 28 studies. Adult patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) showed impairments in cognitive ToM and affective ToM/cognitive empathy compared to the healthy controls (HCs); no group differences were identified for affective empathy. Besides, cognitive ToM was impaired in adult patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and focal seizures (caused by epileptogenic foci) outside the temporal and frontal lobes (extra-TLE/FLE) and no group differences were evident for affective ToM/cognitive empathy compared to the HCs. Moreover, relative to the HCs, no group differences were identified for affective empathy in adult patients with IGE. Additionally, no (statistically) significant difference was observed between the magnitude of ToM/empathy impairment in adult patients who underwent and those who did not undergo epilepsy surgery. These quantitative findings suggest differential impairment of the core aspects of social cognitive processing in adult patients with epilepsy, which may contribute to the development of structured cognitive interventions (i.e., social cognitive training) for adult patients with epilepsy.

Accelerated long-term forgetting in adult patients with genetic generalized epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) has been demonstrated among children but not adults with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). We investigated (1) how forgetting patterns of verbal and visuospatial material differ between patients with GGE and healthy controls (HCs) and (2) whether ALF is associated with ictal or interictal epileptic activity.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with GGE (39, 92.9% experiencing seizures) were compared to 57 HCs in word, logical story, and Rey-Osterrieth complex figure recall tasks by testing after intervals of 30 min and 4 weeks. Ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) was performed before testing to detect generalized epileptic activity, and patients were asked to document the number of seizures during the 4-week interval.

RESULTS

A two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated that individuals with GGE have different forgetting patterns in comparison to HCs in tasks of word (delay by group interaction F_{1.5, 142.5}  = 4.5, p = .02, η p 2  = .04) and figure (F_{2, 194}  = 15.9, p < .001, η p 2  = .14) but not story (F_{1.6 151.1}  = .5, p = .58, η p 2  = .005) recall. Last learning trial-adjusted scores of word recall were comparable between HCs and patients with epilepsy (PWEs) at 30 min (p = .21) but not at 4 weeks (p = .006). Individuals with GGE performed worse than HCs in figure recall at 30 min and 4 weeks (p < .001), with lower performance after the 4-week interval present only among seizure-positive and EEG-positive individuals (p < .001) during subgroup analysis. Performance on memory tests was unrelated to overall seizure frequency, the number of antiseizure drugs used, and epilepsy duration.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study supports the presence of ALF in a task of word recall among adult patients with GGE. The pattern of forgetting visuospatial information suggests greater forgetting of material before the first delay and ongoing deficits among PWEs with epileptic activity. Future studies should confirm our findings and investigate the functional or pathological mechanisms of memory dysfunction in GGE.

Diversified social cognition in temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVES

In an integrated model of social cognition (SC), the theory of mind (ToM), the recognition of behavior in social situations (RBSS), empathy, and sensitivity to moral and conventional rules (SMCR) cooperate in generating mental representations of the interpersonal relationships. The aim of this study was to extend our knowledge of the SC of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients by characterizing its various aspects and predictors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty adult patients with TLE and 50 healthy controls were assessed using ToM, RBSS and SMCR neuropsychological tests, the Empathy Questionnaire, and the psychopathology Symptoms Check List 90R (SCL90-R).

RESULTS

Patients and controls were similar in terms of occupation, income level, age, sex, marital status and the number of family members. Multivariate analysis of variance with demographic variables as the covariates showed that they were similar in SMCR and empathy. The patients, conversely, had lower ToM and RBSS scores, and higher scores on the SCL90-R psychoticism, depression, paranoid ideation, obsessive-compulsive, somatization and anxiety scales. Impaired RBSS was predicted by psychopathological symptoms, income level, schooling and the duration of epilepsy; ToM related to TLE laterality, seizure frequency and epilepsy duration.

CONCLUSIONS

In adult patients with TLE, SC is simultaneously partially impaired and partially preserved, and the fact this is associated with clinical, demographic and psychological variables suggests that SC depends on the integrity of the temporal lobe and the interconnected brain regions, as well as psychosocial stimuli. This approach may contribute to clarify the neurobehavioural phenotype of TLE.

Impaired empathy in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy: An event-related potentials study

PURPOSE

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that may be complicated by neurobehavioral comorbidities. In a previous study, we identified impairment of empathy in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). However, the temporal processing of empathy in patients with IGE is not well understood.

METHODS

We investigated empathy for pain and self-reported empathy in 21 patients with IGE and 22 healthy control subjects. All study participants were required to complete a pain empathy task involving images of individuals in pain and neutral conditions during recording of event-related potentials.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, the patients with IGE showed impaired cognitive empathy but intact emotional empathy on the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index; they also had normal N1, N2, and late positive potential (LPP) but lower P3 amplitudes evoked by depictions of pain in others when compared with neutral images during the pain judgment task; the difference in the effects of pain empathy on the pain task between the IGE group and the control group was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that later processing of pain empathy is impaired but early processing is intact in patients with IGE. The present study extends the findings of our previous behavioral study by providing solid evidence of impaired empathy in patients with IGE at the neural processing level.

Social cognition in epilepsy: State of the art and perspectives

INTRODUCTION

The neuropsychology of epilepsy has been a major area of study for almost a century and cognitive impairments are an integral part of the new definition of epilepsy. Among such impairments, social cognition (SC) dysfunctions are of relatively recent interest. SC abilities refer to the body of knowledge and processes involved in establishing satisfying and appropriate social interactions. In particular, they allow the recognition of emotions in others, emotional experiences which are suitably adapted to social situations, and the ability to infer mental states in oneself and others.

METHODS

An overeview was conducted of the available data within the literature, with the objective of presenting the SC disorders associated with certain types of epilepsy and the possible risk factors already explored i.e., localisation of epileptic focus, age of onset/duration of the disease, and effects of treatments including surgery. Studies investigating the potential repercussions of these disorders on patients' daily life have also been included.

RESULTS

Social cognition disorders are an integral part of the cognitive disorders traditionally described in epilepsy. Indeed, a growing number of studies highlight the increased prevalence of SC disorders in various domains, and some patients appear to be more at risk than others. These disorders could be a major determining factor in the deterioration of patients' quality of life (QOL), particularly patients' support and social integration. This highlights the importance of assessing and managing these disorders in patients with epilepsy (PWE). Perspectives in the field of research and clinical practice are also evoked, such as exploring the links between disruptions in SC abilities and treatments, or developing specific tools for assessment and rehabilitation within the context of epilepsy.

Social cognition in childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

PURPOSE

Social cognition is involved in the perception, processing, and interpretation of social information. For this reason, social cognition is a crucial domain for successful communication and interpersonal relationships. With this in mind, we aimed to assess social cognition in children with Self-Limited Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (CECTS) and its association with traditional executive function tests and clinical variables of epilepsy.

METHODS

We evaluated 23 patients with CECTS (65% male, mean age of 10.64 years) and 20 healthy children (75% male, mean age of 10.15 years). We used the Faux-Pas Child Task (FP) to analyze social cognition and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to evaluate domains of classic executive functions.

RESULTS

Patients with CECTS had impairments in FP compared to healthy children [p < 0.001]. Impairments in some areas of traditional executive functions were related to worse social cognition in patients with CECTS. Epilepsy-related factors did not impair the performance on FP, except for the number of antiseizure medication [p = 0.016].

CONCLUSIONS

Social cognition is impaired in children and adolescents with CECTS. The presence of ongoing seizures and frequent epileptiform activity were not correlated with social cognition. Therefore, epilepsy per se was more relevant for social cognition than its severity.

Cognitive Function in Genetic Generalized Epilepsies: Insights From Neuropsychology and Neuroimaging

Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGE), previously called idiopathic generalized epilepsies, constitute about 20% of all epilepsies, and include childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (CAE, JAE, JME, and GGE-GTCS, respectively). GGE are characterized by high heritability, likely underlain by polygenetic mechanisms, which may relate to atypical neurodevelopmental trajectories. Age of onset ranges from pre-school years, for CAE, to early adulthood for GGE-GTCS. Traditionally, GGE have been considered benign, a belief contrary to evidence from neuropsychology studies conducted over the last two decades. In JME, deficits in executive and social functioning are common findings and relate to impaired frontal lobe function. Studies using neuropsychological measures and cognitive imaging paradigms provide evidence for hyperconnectivity between prefrontal and motor cortices, aberrant fronto-thalamo-cortical connectivity, and reduced fronto-cortical and subcortical gray matter volumes, which are associated with altered cognitive performance. Recent research has also identified associations between abnormal hippocampal morphometry and fronto-temporal activation during episodic memory. Longitudinal studies on individuals with newly diagnosed JME have observed cortical dysmaturation, which is paralleled by delayed cognitive development compared to the patients' peers. Comorbidities and cognitive deficits observed in other GGE subtypes, such as visuo-spatial and language deficits in both CAE and JAE, have also been correlated with atypical neurodevelopment. Although it remains unclear whether cognitive impairment profiles differ amongst GGE subtypes, effects may become more pronounced with disease duration, particularly in absence epilepsies. Finally, there is substantial evidence that patients with JME and their unaffected siblings share patterns of cognitive deficits, which is indicative of an underlying genetic etiology (endophenotype), independent of seizures and anti-epileptic medication.

Social impairment and stigma in genetic generalized epilepsies

INTRODUCTION

Patients with epilepsy have poor social outcome. Multifactorial factors are usually involved, but among them, stigma features may have an important role. Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) were previously considered "benign" syndromes. The aim of our study was to assess social impairment and stigma in GGE and to evaluate differences between the following GGE subsyndromes: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), and generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCSA). Additionally, we compared these outcomes with outcomes from a cohort of patients with epilepsy with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS), a severe and difficult-to-treat syndrome. Results were compared with social data from the general population.

METHODS

Adult patients with epilepsy with a previously classified GGE or MTLE-HS were consecutively invited to fill in a sociodemographic and stigma questionnaire in outpatient clinic. Clinical data and psychiatric comorbidities were retrieved from clinical notes.

RESULTS

Questionnaires from 333 patients were obtained: 226/67% from patients with GGE (JME: 106/31.8%, GTCSA: 74/22.2%, and JAE: 46/13.8%) and 107/32.1% from patients with MTLE-HS. We found that patients with GGE have a good academic achievement but they have increased difficulties in finding a partner, higher rates of divorce, and a reduced number of children per woman and per man when compared with general population. We also observed that patients with GGE have higher rates of unemployment (22.6%) and lower monthly income than general population. Severe problems in housing were only seen in GGEs. Of these, 3 patients (1.3%) were in homeless condition. Over half (52%) of patients with MTLE-HS and over a quarter (28%) of patients with GGE experienced felt stigma. Psychiatric comorbidity was highly prevalent among GGE (34.1%), especially in patients with refractory epilepsy. Mood and anxiety disorders were the most prevalent conditions. No other significant differences were found between GGE subsyndromes.

DISCUSSION

We found an impairment in every social domain assessed (except in level of education) when compared with general population. Most of the social outcome parameters were unexpectedly close or similar to MTLE-HS or even worse as it was the prevalence of homelessness among GGE. Social impairment is underdiagnosed and might be considered in clinical practice even in syndromes for some time considered benign such as GGE.

Pharmacological Management of the Genetic Generalised Epilepsies in Adolescents and Adults

Common genetic generalised epilepsy syndromes encountered by clinicians include childhood and juvenile absence epilepsies, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and generalised tonic-clonic seizures on awakening. Treatment of these syndromes involves largely the use of broad-spectrum antiseizure drugs. Those effective for the generalised epilepsies include sodium valproate, phenobarbital, ethosuximide, clobazam, clonazepam, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate, zonisamide and, more recently, perampanel and brivaracetam. Results from the few rigorous studies comparing outcomes with drugs for genetic generalised epilepsies show valproate to be the most effective. The majority of patients with genetic generalised epilepsy syndromes will become seizure free on antiseizure monotherapy; those for whom control proves elusive may benefit from combination regimens. Early counselling regarding management may assist the patient to come to terms with their diagnosis and improve long-term outcomes. Treatment can be lifelong in some individuals, although others may remain seizure free without medication. Choice of antiseizure medication depends on the efficacy for specific seizure types, as well as tolerability. For patients prescribed comedication, drug interactions should be considered. In particular, for young women taking oral hormonal contraceptives, ≥ 200 mg/day of topiramate can decrease the circulating concentration of ethinylestradiol and ≥ 12 mg/day of perampanel can induce levonorgestrel metabolism. The use of valproate in women of childbearing potential is limited by associated teratogenic and neurodevelopmental effects in offspring. Given that valproate is often the antiseizure drug of choice for genetic generalised epilepsies, this creates a dilemma for patients and clinicians. Decision making can be aided by comprehensive assessment and discussion of treatment options. Psychiatric comorbidities are common in adolescents and adults with genetic generalised epilepsies. These worsen the prognosis, both in terms of seizure control and quality of life. Attendant lifestyle issues can impact significantly on the individual and society. Frontal lobe dysfunction, which can present in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, can adversely affect the long-term outlook, regardless of the nature of seizure control. Ongoing management requires consideration of psychosocial and behavioural factors that can complicate diagnosis and treatment. An assured supportive attitude by the neurologist can be an important contributor to a positive outcome. The mechanisms underlying genetic generalised epilepsies, including genetic abnormalities, are unclear at present. As the pathophysiology is unravelled, this may lead to the development of novel therapies and improved outcomes for patients with these syndromes.

Social cognition and psychopathology in childhood and adolescence

There is a substantial body of research on social cognition in adults with epilepsy, and in broad categories such as focal and generalized epilepsies, but much less has been written about social cognition in children with epilepsy (CWE), and in childhood-onset epilepsy syndromes specifically. In several of these syndromes, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), two disorders with social cognitive impairments, are reported. There is strong evidence for social cognitive deficits in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). There is also a considerable amount of evidence for such deficits in a number of syndromes that may be associated with ASD or ADHD, including West syndrome (WS), Dravet syndrome (DS), and the Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS). However, the evidence is of variable quality and incomplete across the range of childhood epilepsy syndromes. In some syndromes, childhood epilepsy substantially increases the risk of severe social cognitive impairment, which may persist after the seizures remit. This paper presents an overview of current research on social cognition in childhood epilepsy, with a particular focus on syndromes with a high prevalence of autistic and behavioral comorbidities. Social cognitive impairments represent a considerable additional challenge for patients and caregivers. Early diagnosis and intervention might significantly improve long-term social cognitive outcomes, highlighting the need for greater awareness among clinicians of this important topic. This article is part of the Special Issue "Epilepsy and social cognition across the lifespan".

Theory of mind across lifespan from ages 16 to 81 years

PURPOSE

Impaired theory of mind (ToM) is a neurobehavioral phenotype of epilepsy. Given that the age transitions affect cognitive development and decline, it is important to refine ToM across the lifespan. This study evaluated ToM in healthy subjects, taking into account education, gender, and other functions, aiming to clarify its specificity and relationships to major demographic and cognitive domains.

METHODS

A hundred and seventy subjects from ages 16 to 81 years (68 men) who received five to 17 years of schooling were evaluated using a Faux Pas Task (FPT) that is solved at the end of childhood and is highly sensitive to brain damage and tests for language, memory, praxis, visual perception, initiative, attention, shifting, and planning. Factor analysis, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the data.

RESULTS

The analysis yielded six factors: Beliefs, Delusions, and Facts, which express the understanding of mental states and contextual details; Matching-Learning, Executive, and Working Memory. On this basis, six composite scores (CSs) were computed. Age and schooling showed significant effects on the Matching-Learning, Executive, and Working Memory CSs. The FPT raw scores and CSs were unrelated to age or schooling, while females showed better performance than males. The Beliefs CS and FPT scores were predicted by the Executive, Working Memory, Delusions, and Facts CSs and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Theory of mind is a specific cognitive domain independent of age and formal education, but related to gender. Working memory, executive functions, and reality examination support some ToM processes. These findings may provide reference points against which impairment can be assessed. This article is part of the Special Issue "Epilepsy and social cognition across the lifespan".

Social cognition in idiopathic generalized epilepsies and potential neuroanatomical correlates

Social cognition allows us to elaborate mental representations of social relationships and use them appropriately in a social environment. One of its main attributes is the so-called Theory of Mind (ToM), which consists of the ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, emotions, and feelings to self and others. Investigating social cognition may help understand the poor social outcome often experienced by persons with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies (IGE), who otherwise present with normal intelligence. In recent years, several studies have addressed social cognition in subjects with focal epilepsies, while literature on social cognition in IGE is scarce, and findings are often conflicting. Some studies on samples of patients with mixed IGE showed difficulties in emotion attribution tasks, which were not replicated in a homogeneous population of patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy alone. Impairment of higher order social skills, such as those assessed by Strange Stories Test and Faux Pas Tasks, were consistently found by different studies on mixed IGE, suggesting that this may be a more distinctive IGE-associated trait, irrespective of the specific syndrome subtype. Though an interplay between social cognition and executive functions (EF) was suggested by several authors, and their simultaneous impairment was shown in several epilepsy syndromes including IGE, no formal correlations among the two domains were identified in most studies. People with IGE exhibit subtle brain structural alterations in areas potentially involved in sociocognitive functional networks, including mesial prefrontal and temporoparietal cortices, which may relate to impairment in social cognition. Heterogeneity in patient samples, mostly consisting of groups with mixed IGE, and lack of analyses in specific IGE subsyndromes, represent evident limitations of the current literature. Larger studies, focusing on specific subsyndromes and implementing standardized test batteries, will improve our understanding of sociocognitive processing in IGE. Concomitant high-resolution structural and functional neuroimaging may aid the identification of its neural correlates. This article is part of the Special Issue "Epilepsy and social cognition across the lifespan".

Subtle Brain Developmental Abnormalities in the Pathogenesis of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), a lifelong disorder that starts during adolescence, is the most common of genetic generalized epilepsy syndromes. JME is characterized by awakening myoclonic jerks and myoclonic-tonic-clonic (m-t-c) grand mal convulsions. Unfortunately, one third of JME patients have drug refractory m-t-c convulsions and these recur in 70-80% who attempt to stop antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Behavioral studies documented impulsivity, but also impairment of executive functions relying on organization and feedback, which points to prefrontal lobe dysfunction. Quantitative voxel-based morphometry (VBM) revealed abnormalities of gray matter (GM) volumes in cortical (frontal and parietal) and subcortical structures (thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) found evidence of dysfunction of thalamic neurons. White matter (WM) integrity was disrupted in corpus callosum and frontal WM tracts. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) further unveiled anomalies in both GM and WM structures that were already present at the time of seizure onset. Aberrant growth trajectories of brain development occurred during the first 2 years of JME diagnosis. Because of genetic origin, disease causing variants were sought, first by positional cloning, and most recently, by next generation sequencing. To date, only six genes harboring pathogenic variants (GABRA1, GABRD, EFHC1, BRD2, CASR, and ICK) with Mendelian and complex inheritance and covering a limited proportion of the world population, are considered as major susceptibility alleles for JME. Evidence on the cellular role, developmental and cell-type expression profiles of these six diverse JME genes, point to their pathogenic variants driving the first steps of brain development when cell division, expansion, axial, and tangential migration of progenitor cells (including interneuron cortical progenitors) sculpture subtle alterations in brain networks and microcircuits during development. These alterations may explain "microdysgenesis" neuropathology, impulsivity, executive dysfunctions, EEG polyspike waves, and awakening m-t-c convulsions observed in JME patients.

Developmental MRI markers cosegregate juvenile patients with myoclonic epilepsy and their healthy siblings

OBJECTIVE

MRI studies of genetic generalized epilepsies have mainly described group-level changes between patients and healthy controls. To determine the endophenotypic potential of structural MRI in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), we examined MRI-based cortical morphologic markers in patients and their healthy siblings.

METHODS

In this prospective, cross-sectional study, we obtained 3T MRI in patients with JME, siblings, and controls. We mapped sulco-gyral complexity and surface area, morphologic markers of brain development, and cortical thickness. Furthermore, we calculated mean geodesic distance, a surrogate marker of cortico-cortical connectivity.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients and siblings showed increased folding complexity and surface area in prefrontal and cingulate cortices. In these regions, they also displayed abnormally increased geodesic distance, suggesting network isolation and decreased efficiency, with strongest effects for limbic, fronto-parietal, and dorsal-attention networks. In areas of findings overlap, we observed strong patient-sibling correlations. Conversely, neocortical thinning was present in patients only and related to disease duration. Patients showed subtle impairment in mental flexibility, a frontal lobe function test, as well as deficits in naming and design learning. Siblings' performance fell between patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

MRI markers of brain development and connectivity are likely heritable and may thus serve as endophenotypes. The topography of morphologic anomalies and their abnormal structural network integration likely explains cognitive impairments in patients with JME and their siblings. By contrast, cortical atrophy likely represents a marker of disease.

Abnormal hippocampal structure and function in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and unaffected siblings

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is the most common genetic generalized epilepsy syndrome, characterized by a complex polygenetic aetiology. Structural and functional MRI studies demonstrated mesial or lateral frontal cortical derangements and impaired fronto-cortico-subcortical connectivity in patients and their unaffected siblings. The presence of hippocampal abnormalities and associated memory deficits is controversial, and functional MRI studies in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have not tested hippocampal activation. In this observational study, we implemented multi-modal MRI and neuropsychological data to investigate hippocampal structure and function in 37 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, 16 unaffected siblings and 20 healthy controls, comparable for age, gender, handedness and hemispheric dominance as assessed with language laterality indices. Automated hippocampal volumetry was complemented by validated qualitative and quantitative morphological criteria to detect hippocampal malrotation, assumed to represent a neurodevelopmental marker. Neuropsychological measures of verbal and visuo-spatial learning and an event-related verbal and visual memory functional MRI paradigm addressed mesiotemporal function. We detected a reduction of mean left hippocampal volume in patients and their siblings compared with controls (P < 0.01). Unilateral or bilateral hippocampal malrotation was identified in 51% of patients and 50% of siblings, against 15% of controls (P < 0.05). For bilateral hippocampi, quantitative markers of verticalization had significantly larger values in patients and siblings compared with controls (P < 0.05). In the patient subgroup, there was no relationship between structural measures and age at disease onset or degree of seizure control. No overt impairment of verbal and visual memory was identified with neuropsychological tests. Functional mapping highlighted atypical patterns of hippocampal activation, pointing to abnormal recruitment during verbal encoding in patients and their siblings [P < 0.05, familywise error (FWE)-corrected]. Subgroup analyses indicated distinct profiles of hypoactivation along the hippocampal long axis in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients with and without malrotation; patients with malrotation also exhibited reduced frontal recruitment for verbal memory, and more pronounced left posterior hippocampal involvement for visual memory. Linear models across the entire study cohort indicated significant associations between morphological markers of hippocampal positioning and hippocampal activation for verbal items (all P < 0.05, FWE-corrected). We demonstrate abnormalities of hippocampal volume, shape and positioning in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and their siblings, which are associated with reorganization of function and imply an underlying neurodevelopmental mechanism with expression during the prenatal stage. Co-segregation of abnormal hippocampal morphology in patients and their siblings is suggestive of a genetic imaging phenotype, independent of disease activity, and can be construed as a novel endophenotype of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Social cognition, behaviour and therapy adherence in frontal lobe epilepsy: a study combining neuroeconomic and neuropsychological methods

Social behaviour of healthy humans and its neural correlates have been extensively studied in social neuroscience and neuroeconomics. Whereas it is well established that several types of epilepsies, such as frontal lobe epilepsy, lead to social cognitive impairments, experimental evidence on how these translate into behavioural symptoms is scarce. Furthermore, it is unclear whether social cognitive or behavioural disturbances have an impact on therapy adherence, which is critical for effective disease management, but generally low in these patients. In order to investigate the relationship between social cognition, social behaviour, and therapy adherence in patients with frontal lobe epilepsies (FLE), we designed a study combining conventional neuropsychological with behavioural economic and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methodology. Fifteen patients and 15 healthy controls played a prisoners' dilemma game (an established game to operationalize social behaviour) while undergoing fMRI. Additionally, social cognitive, basic neuropsychological variables, and therapy adherence were assessed. Our results implicate that social behaviour is indeed affected and can be quantified using neuroeconomic methods in patients with FLE. Impaired social behaviour in these patients might be a consequence of altered brain activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and play a role in low therapy adherence. Finally, this study serves as an example of how to integrate neuroeconomic methods in neurology.

What Do You Have in Mind? Measures to Assess Mental State Reasoning in Neuropsychiatric Populations

Social interaction is closely associated with both functional capacity and well-being. Previous research has not only revealed evidence of social dysfunction in individuals with a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders but also generated an abundance of potential measures for assessing social cognition. This review explores the most popular measures used within neuropsychiatric populations to investigate the ability to recognize or reason about the mental states of others. Measures are also critically analyzed in terms of strengths and limitations to aid task selection in future clinical studies. The most frequently applied assessment tools use verbal, visual or audiovisual forms of presentation and assess recognition of mental states from facial features, self-rated empathy, the understanding of other's cognitive mental states such as beliefs and intentions, or the ability to combine knowledge of other's thoughts and emotions in order to understand subtle communications or socially inappropriate behavior. Key weaknesses of previous research include limited investigation of relationships with clinical symptoms, and underutilization of measures of everyday social functioning that offer a useful counterpart to traditional "lab" tasks. Future studies should aim to carefully select measures not only based on the range of skills to be assessed but also taking into account potential difficulties with interpretation and the need to gain insight into the application of social cognitive skills as well as ability per se. Some of the best measures include those with well-matched control trials (e.g., Yoni Task) or those that restrict the influence of verbal deficits (e.g., intentions comic strip task), elicit spontaneous mentalizing (e.g., Animations Task), and possess greater ecological validity (e.g., Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition). Social cognitive research within psychiatric populations will be further enhanced through the development of more closely matched control tasks, and the exploration of relationships between task performance, medication, strategy use, and broader emotional and motor functions.

The "Cinderella Syndrome": A narrative study of social curfews and lifestyle restrictions in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Several factors are thought to contribute to inadequate seizure control in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), including drug resistance, neuropsychiatric comorbidity, and poor lifestyle choices. Recent evidence supports the existence of frontal lobe microstructural deficits and behavioral changes that may contribute to poor seizure control in a minority of patients. Counseling patients on the importance of adequate sleep hygiene and alcohol restriction is an important part of the management strategy for patients with JME. However, information is lacking on how these lifestyle restrictions impact on patients with JME. We conducted a qualitative descriptive analysis of the social impact of JME on 12 patients, from their own perspective. We identified four prominent themes: the importance of alcohol use as a social "norm", how JME affected relationships, decision making (risk versus consequences), and knowledge imparting control. Given that these restrictions were interpreted by patients as social "curfews", we suggest that the term "Cinderella Syndrome" encapsulates the perceived imperative to be home before midnight. Our findings underscore the importance for clinicians to recognize that in counseling patients with JME about lifestyle adjustments, there may be a significant social consequence unique to this patient group.