Abstract
Facial temperature T f , an important link in cerebral thermoregulation and an ignored index of autonomic activity, was studied in three patients with mesial temporal epilepsy. Sets of infrared images were obtained automatically during seizures and also hourly, round-the-clock. For each patient, scan sets were sorted into: (1) ictal; (2) interictal with negligible motion; and (3) interictal with motion. Comparisons of mean, variance, and trend in each scan set among these groups showed considerable variability. However, significant trends in T f occurred ( P<0.05) in two-thirds of seizures in one patient, three-fourths in another, and two-ninths in the third, consisting of steady decreases in T f beginning at peak seizure intensity R max and continuing into the postictus. Maximal ictal T f was greater than interictal T f ( P<0.05), but it negatively correlated with R max in two subjects. The ictal changes in T f , which may have a homeostatic role, suggest activation of thermoregulatory mechanisms during mesial temporal seizures.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
