Reduction of seizure occurrence from exposure to auditory stimulation in individuals with neurological handicaps: a randomized controlled trial.

Mark Bodner,Robert P Turner,Christopher Bowers,Caroline Norment,John Schwacke,Berthold Langguth

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045303

Mark Bodner, Robert P Turner + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045303

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Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this work was to determine in a clinical trial the efficacy of reducing or preventing seizures in patients with neurological handicaps through sustained cortical activation evoked by passive exposure to a specific auditory stimulus (particular music). The specific type of stimulation had been determined in previous studies to evoke anti-epileptiform/anti-seizure brain activity.MethodsThe study was conducted at the Thad E. Saleeby Center in Harstville, South Carolina, which is a permanent residence for individuals with heterogeneous neurological impairments, many with epilepsy. We investigated the ability to reduce or prevent seizures in subjects through cortical stimulation from sustained passive nightly exposure to a specific auditory stimulus (music) in a three-year randomized controlled study. In year 1, baseline seizure rates were established. In year 2, subjects were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment group subjects were exposed during sleeping hours to specific music at regular intervals. Control subjects received no music exposure and were maintained on regular anti-seizure medication. In year 3, music treatment was terminated and seizure rates followed. We found a significant treatment effect (p = 0.024) during the treatment phase persisting through the follow-up phase (p = 0.002). Subjects exposed to treatment exhibited a significant 24% decrease in seizures during the treatment phase, and a 33% decrease persisting through the follow-up phase. Twenty-four percent of treatment subjects exhibited a complete absence of seizures during treatment.Conclusion/SignificanceExposure to specific auditory stimuli (i.e. music) can significantly reduce seizures in subjects with a range of epilepsy and seizure types, in some cases achieving a complete cessation of seizures. These results are consistent with previous work showing reductions in epileptiform activity from particular music exposure and offers potential for achieving a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic treatment of epilepsy.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01459692

Highlights

Neurologically-impaired individuals may have significant neurologic morbidity related to epilepsy and seizure disorders
Twenty-five treatment group subjects and 11 control group subjects were submitted to final analysis
Baseline Data No significant difference in baseline seizure rates of treatment and control groups was present at study onset

Summary

Introduction

Neurologically-impaired individuals may have significant neurologic morbidity related to epilepsy and seizure disorders. Stimulation of the cortex by exposure to particular patterned auditory stimuli (e.g. particular music) may reduce or even prevent or terminate epileptiform/seizure activity in many individuals [31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38]. In a recent study by Lin et al, [36] it was indicated that specific components of that particular music stimulus reduced epileptiform discharges during and immediately after exposure to the K. The purpose of this work was to determine in a clinical trial the efficacy of reducing or preventing seizures in patients with neurological handicaps through sustained cortical activation evoked by passive exposure to a specific auditory stimulus (particular music). The specific type of stimulation had been determined in previous studies to evoke antiepileptiform/anti-seizure brain activity

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