Cortical excitability measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation in children with epilepsy before and after antiepileptic drugs.

AIM: To evaluate cortical excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in children with new-onset epilepsy before and after antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). METHOD: Fifty-five drug-naïve patients (29 females, 26 males; 3-18y), with new-onset epilepsy were recruited from 1st May 2014 to 31st October 2017 at the Child Neurology Department, Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. We performed TMS in 48 children (23 females, 25 males; mean [SD] age 10y [3y], range 4-15y) with epilepsy (27 generalized and 21 focal) before and after the introduction of AEDs. We used single- and paired-pulse TMS. We used single-pulse TMS to record resting motor thresholds (RMTs), stimulus-response curves, and cortical silent periods (CSPs). We used paired-pulse TMS to record intracortical inhibition and facilitation at short, long, and intermediate intervals. RESULTS: There were no differences in cortical excitability between children with generalized and focal epilepsy at baseline. After AED treatment, RMTs increased (p=0.001), especially in children receiving sodium valproate (p=0.005). CSPs decreased after sodium valproate was administered (p=0.050). As in previous studies, we noted a negative correlation between RMT and age in our study cohort. Paired-pulse TMS could not be performed in most children because high RMTs made suprathreshold stimulation impossible. INTERPRETATION: Cortical excitability as measured with RMT decreased after the introduction of AEDs. This was seen in children with both generalized and focal epilepsy who were treated with sodium valproate, although it was most prominent in children with generalized epilepsy. We suggest that TMS might be used as a prognostic tool to predict AED efficacy. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Resting motor threshold (RMT) correlated negatively with age in children with epilepsy. No differences in cortical excitability were noted between patients with generalized and focal epilepsy. Treatment with antiepileptic drugs decreased cortical excitability as measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Decreased cortical excitability with increased RMT was recorded, especially after sodium valproate treatment. Paired-pulse TMS was difficult to perform because of high RMTs in children.

Medición de la excitabilidad cortical con estimulación magnética transcraneal en niños con epilepsia antes y después de los fármacos antiepilépticos OBJETIVO: Evaluar la excitabilidad cortical con estimulación magnética transcraneal (EMT) en niños con epilepsia de nueva aparición antes y después del uso de un fármaco antiepiléptico (FAE). MÉTODO: Cincuenta y cinco pacientes sin tratamiento previo (29 mujeres, 26 varones; de 3-18 años), con epilepsia de nueva aparición fueron reclutados del 1 de mayo de 2014 al 31 de octubre de 2017 en el Departamento de Neurología Infantil del Hospital de Niños Queen Silvia, en Gotemburgo, Suecia. Se realizó EMT en 48 niños (23 mujeres, 25 varones; media [DE] de 10 años [3 años], rango 4-15 años) con epilepsia (27 generalizada y 21 focal) antes y después de la introducción de los FAE. Usamos EMT de pulso único y de pulso emparejado. Utilizamos EMT de pulso único para registrar umbrales motores en reposo (UMR), curvas de estímulo-respuesta y períodos silenciosos corticales (PSC). Usamos EMT de pulso emparejado para registrar la inhibición y la facilitación intracorticales a intervalos cortos, largos e intermedios. RESULTADOS: No hubo diferencias en la excitabilidad cortical entre niños con epilepsia generalizada y focal al inicio. Después del tratamiento con FAE, los UMR aumentaron (p.0,001), especialmente en niños que recibieron valproato de sodio (p.0,005). Los PSC disminuyeron después de la administración del valproato sódico (p.0,050). Como en estudios anteriores, observamos una correlación negativa entre UMR y edad en nuestra cohorte de estudio. La EMT de pulso emparejado no se pudo realizar en la mayoría de los niños porque los UMR altos hacían imposible la estimulación supraumbral. INTERPRETACIÓN: La excitabilidad cortical medida con UMR disminuyó después de la introducción de los FAE. Esto se vio en niños con epilepsia generalizada y focal que fueron tratados con valproato de sodio, fue más prominente en niños con epilepsia generalizada. Sugerimos que EMT podría utilizarse como una herramienta de pronóstico para predecir la eficacia de la FAE.

Excitabilidade cortical medida com estimulação magnética transcraniana em crianças com epilepsia antes e após drogas antiepilépticas OBJETIVO: Avaliar a excitabilidade cortical com estimulação magnética transcraniana (TMS) em crianças com epilepsia de início recente antes e após drogas antiepilépticas (DAEs). MÉTODO: Cinquenta e cinco pacientes não expostos a drogas (29 do sexo feminino, 26 do sexo masculino; 3-18a), com epilepsia de início recente foram recrutadas de 1 de maio de 2014a a 31 de outubro de 2017 no Departamento de Neurologia Infantil, Hospital Rainha Silvia, Gothenburg, Suécia. Aplicamos TMS em 48 crianças (23 do sexo feminino, 25 do sexo masculino; média [DP] de idade 10a [3a], variação 4-15a) com epilepsia (27 generalizada e 21 focal) antes e após a introdução de DAEs. Usamos TMS de pulso único e pareado. O TMS de pulso único foi usado para registrar os limiares motores de repouso (LMR), curvas de estímulo-resposta, e períodos de silêncio cortical (PSC). Usamos TMS de pulsos pareados para registrar inibição e facilitação intracortical nos intervalos curto, longo e intermediário. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças na excitabiildade cortical entre crianças com epilepsia generalizada e focal na linha de base. Após o tratamento com DAE, o LMR aumentou (p=0,001), especialmente em crianças recebendo valproato de sódio (p=0,005). Os PSCs diminuíram após o valproato de sódio ser (p=0,050). Como em estudos prévios, notamos correlação negativa entre LMR e idade em nossa coorte. TMS de pulso pareado não pôde ser realizado na maioria das crianças porque os altos LMRs tornaram a estimulação supra-limiar impossível. INTERPRETAÇÃO: A excitabilidade cortical mensurada por LMR diminuiu após a introdução de DAEs. Isso foi visto em crianças com epilepsia generalizada e focal tratadas com valproato de sódio, embora tenha sido mais proeminente naquelas com epilepsia generalizada. Sugerimos que o TMS pode ser usada como ferramenta prognóstica para predizer a eficácia da DAE.

Pre-operative language ability in patients with presumed low-grade glioma.

In patients with low-grade glioma (LGG), language deficits are usually only found and investigated after surgery. Deficits may be present before surgery but to date, studies have yielded varying results regarding the extent of this problem and in what language domains deficits may occur. This study therefore aims to explore the language ability of patients who have recently received a presumptive diagnosis of low-grade glioma, and also to see whether they reported any changes in their language ability before receiving treatment. Twenty-three patients were tested using a comprehensive test battery that consisted of standard aphasia tests and tests of lexical retrieval and high-level language functions. The patients were also asked whether they had noticed any change in their use of language or ability to communicate. The test scores were compared to a matched reference group and to clinical norms. The presumed LGG group performed significantly worse than the reference group on two tests of lexical retrieval. Since five patients after surgery were discovered to have a high-grade glioma, a separate analysis excluding them were performed. These analyses revealed comparable results; however one test of word fluency was no longer significant. Individually, the majority exhibited normal or nearly normal language ability and only a few reported subjective changes in language or ability to communicate. This study shows that patients who have been diagnosed with LGG generally show mild or no language deficits on either objective or subjective assessment.

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation for preoperative cortical mapping of expressive language in children: Development of a method.

We adjusted an object-naming task with repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rnTMS) originally developed for preoperative cortical language mapping in adults in order for it to be used in children. Two series of pictures were chosen for children above and below 10 years of age, respectively. Firstly, the series of pictures and the preferred speed of presentation were assessed for their applicability in children of different ages and abilities. Secondly, these series were used with rnTMS preoperatively in five children with epilepsy. Naming errors induced by the stimulation comprised no response, delayed response, semantic error, phonological error, and self-correction. Language laterality was compared with the results of a dichotic listening test and with neuropsychological tests with respect to general laterality, and general language abilities were considered with respect to the results of stimulation. One participant had below normal general language abilities, two had below-normal rapid naming, and three had slow and indistinct articulation. Laterality was only clear in two of the participants. All children required breaks of various durations during the process, and individual adjustments of the interpicture interval and other stimulation parameters were also made. We conclude that, after adjustment, rnTMS combined with an object-naming task can be useful for preoperative language mapping in children.

Swedish consensus reached on recording, interpretation and reporting of neonatal continuous simplified electroencephalography that is supported by amplitude-integrated trend analysis.

Continuous monitoring of electroencephalography (EEG), with a focus on amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), has been used in neonatal intensive care for decades. A number of systems have been suggested for describing and quantifying aEEG patterns. Extensive full-montage EEG monitoring is used in specialised intensive care units. The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society published recommendations for defining and reporting EEG findings in critically ill adults and infants. Swedish neonatologists and clinical neurophysiologists collaborated to optimise simplified neonatal continuous aEEG and EEG recordings based on these American documents. CONCLUSION: This paper describes the Swedish consensus document produced by those meetings.

Effect of Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Painful Polyneuropathy and Influence of Possible Predictors of Efficacy including BDNF Polymorphism: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Crossover Study.

Introduction: The neuromodulating effects of transcutaneous-spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) have been reported to block pain signaling. For patients with chronic pain, tsDCS could be a potential treatment option. To approach this, we studied the effect of anodal tsDCS on patients with neuropathic pain approaching an optimal paradigm including the investigation of different outcome predictors. Methods: In this randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled crossover study we recruited twenty patients with neurophysiologically evaluated neuropathic pain due to polyneuropathy (PNP). Variables (VAS; pain and sleep quality) were reported daily, one week prior to, and one week after the stimulation/sham period. Anodal tsDCS (2.5 mA, 20 min) was given once daily for three days during one week. BDNF-polymorphism, pharmacological treatment, and body mass index (BMI) of all the patients were investigated. Results: Comparing the effects of sham and real stimulation at the group level, there was a tendency towards reduced pain, but no significant effects were found. However, for sleep quality a significant improvement was seen. At the individual level, 30 and 35% of the subjects had a clinically significant improvement of pain level and sleep quality, respectively, the first day after the stimulation. Both effects were reduced over the coming week and these changes were negatively correlated. The BDNF polymorphism Val66Met was carried by 35% of the patients and this group was found to have a lower general level of pain but there was no significant difference in the tsDCS response effect. Neither pharmacologic treatment or BMI influenced the treatment effect. Conclusions: Short-term and sparse anodal thoracic tsDCS reduces pain and improves sleep with large inter-individual differences. Roughly 30% will benefit in a clinically meaningful way. The BDNF genotype seems to influence the level of pain that PNP produces. Individualized and intensified tsDCS may be a treatment option for neuropathic pain due to PNP.

Get a New Perspective on EEG: Convolutional Neural Network Encoders for Parametric t-SNE.

t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) is a method for reducing high-dimensional data to a low-dimensional representation, and is mostly used for visualizing data. In parametric t-SNE, a neural network learns to reproduce this mapping. When used for EEG analysis, the data are usually first transformed into a set of features, but it is not known which features are optimal. The principle of t-SNE was used to train convolutional neural network (CNN) encoders to learn to produce both a high- and a low-dimensional representation, eliminating the need for feature engineering. To evaluate the method, the Temple University EEG Corpus was used to create three datasets with distinct EEG characters: (1) wakefulness and sleep; (2) interictal epileptiform discharges; and (3) seizure activity. The CNN encoders produced low-dimensional representations of the datasets with a structure that conformed well to the EEG characters and generalized to new data. Compared to parametric t-SNE for either a short-time Fourier transform or wavelet representation of the datasets, the developed CNN encoders performed equally well in separating categories, as assessed by support vector machines. The CNN encoders generally produced a higher degree of clustering, both visually and in the number of clusters detected by k-means clustering. The developed principle is promising and could be further developed to create general tools for exploring relations in EEG data.

Hand Function After an Electrical Accident-A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Electrical accidents cause both acute and long-term injuries. The care of acute injuries is somewhat standardized, but currently recommendations or assessment tools are not available for assessing the long-term effects of an accident on hand function. METHODS: A case-control study of 24 healthy controls and 24 cases, 1 to 5 years after an electrical accident and with self-reported neurosensory symptoms, was performed using three hand-function tests: the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, the Purdue Pegboard test, and the Shape and Texture Identification test. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients received statistically significantly lower scores for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand outcome measure and the Purdue Pegboard and for one finger on the Shape and Texture Identification test. CONCLUSION: Hand function is affected after an electrical accident in individuals with self-reported neurosensory symptoms.

Possibly lifesaving, noninvasive, EEG-guided neuromodulation in anesthesia-refractory partial status epilepticus.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) guided as to localization and effect by continuous EEG on a super-refractory status epilepticus unresponsive to conventional treatment for 44 days including repeated deep sedation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered for one-hour sessions to the most active of two EEG foci for 8 days. From the third day of stimulation, the EEG pathology markedly decreased in parallel to clinical improvement. The patient could be weaned off the respirator, transferred to an ordinary ward then to a rehabilitation clinic. This is the first report of a positive outcome of rTMS treatment in super-refractory status epilepticus. In the context of refractory partial status epilepticus, neuromodulation through rTMS is a safe treatment option. If performed along the lines herein described, it may also be more efficient than conventional treatment. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may be an underused treatment option for status epilepticus.

Textile electrodes for EEG recording--a pilot study.

The overall aim of our research is to develop a monitoring system for neonatal intensive care units. Long-term EEG monitoring in newborns require that the electrodes don't harm the sensitive skin of the baby, an especially relevant feature for premature babies. Our approach to EEG monitoring is based on several electrodes distributed over the head of the baby, and since the weight of the head always will be on some of them, any type of hard electrode will inevitably cause a pressure-point that can irritate the skin. Therefore, we propose the use of soft conductive textiles as EEG electrodes, primarily for neonates, but also for other kinds of unobtrusive long-term monitoring. In this paper we have tested two types of textile electrodes on five healthy adults and compared them to standard high quality electrodes. The acquired signals were compared with respect to morphology, frequency distribution, spectral coherence, correlation and power line interference sensitivity, and the signals were found to be similar in most respects. The good measurement performance exhibited by the textile electrodes indicates that they are feasible candidates for EEG recording, opening the door for long-term EEG monitoring applications.

Clinical Evaluation of Nerve Function in Electrical Accident Survivors with Persisting Neurosensory Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Work related electrical accidents are prevalent and can cause persisting symptoms. We used clinical neurophysiological techniques to assess neurosensory function following electrical accidents and correlated test results with the patients' symptoms. METHODS: We studied 24 patients who reported persisting neurosensory symptoms following a workplace electrical accident. We assessed nerve function using quantitative sensory testing (QST), thermal roller testing, laser evoked potential (LEP), and electroneurography. The patients' results were compared with previously established normative data. RESULTS: Altogether, 67% of the patients showed at least one neurosensory impairment with a large heterogeneity in test results across patients. At a group level, we observed significant deviations in in QST, LEP, and sensory and motor neurography. Overall, we found a weak correlation between test results and self-reported symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In a majority of patients with neurosensory symptoms after a workplace electrical accident, neurosensory testing confirmed the existence of an underlying impairment of the nervous system.

Neuroplasticity following Nerve Transfer of the Anterior Interosseous Nerve for Proximal Ulnar Nerve Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Injuries to the ulnar nerve at or above proximal forearm level result in poor recovery despite early microsurgical repair, especially concerning the intrinsic motor function of the hand. To augment the numbers of regenerating axons into the targeted muscles, a nerve transfer of the distal branch of the median nerve, the anterior interosseous nerve, to the ulnar motor branch has been described. METHODS: Two patients with severe atrophy of the intrinsic hand muscles following an initial proximal ulnar nerve repair had surgery with an end-to-side transfer of the anterior interosseous nerve to the ulnar motor branch at the wrist level. Outcome and neuroplasticity were prospectively studied using questionnaires, clinical examinations, electroneurography, electromyography, somatosensory evoked potentials at pre nerve transfer and 3-, 12-, and 24-months post nerve transfer as well as navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation at pre nerve transfer and 3- and 12-months post nerve transfer. RESULTS: Successively improved motor function was observed. Complete reinnervation of intrinsic hand muscles was demonstrated at 12- to 24-months follow-up by electroneurography and electromyography. At the cortical level, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation detected a movement of the hot-spot for the abductor digiti mini muscle, originally innervated by the ulnar nerve and the size of the area from where responses could be elicited in this muscle changed over time, indicating central plastic processes. An almost complete reinnervation of the pronator quadratus muscle was also observed. CONCLUSION: Both central and peripheral plastic mechanisms are involved in muscle reinnervation after anterior interosseous nerve transfer for treatment of proximal ulnar nerve injuries.

Virtual EEG-electrodes: Convolutional neural networks as a method for upsampling or restoring channels.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, EEGs are assessed visually. For practical reasons, recordings often need to be performed with a reduced number of electrodes and artifacts make assessment difficult. To circumvent these obstacles, different interpolation techniques can be utilized. These techniques usually perform better for higher electrode densities and values interpolated at areas far from electrodes can be unreliable. Using a method that learns the statistical distribution of the cortical electrical fields and predicts values may yield better results. NEW METHOD: Generative networks based on convolutional layers were trained to upsample from 4 or 14 channels or to dynamically restore single missing channels to recreate 21-channel EEGs. 5,144 h of data from 1,385 subjects of the Temple University Hospital EEG database were used for training and evaluating the networks. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD: The results were compared to spherical spline interpolation. Several statistical measures were used as well as a visual evaluation by board certified clinical neurophysiologists. Overall, the generative networks performed significantly better. There was no difference between real and network generated data in the number of examples assessed as artificial by experienced EEG interpreters whereas for data generated by interpolation, the number was significantly higher. In addition, network performance improved with increasing number of included subjects, with the greatest effect seen in the range 5-100 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Using neural networks to restore or upsample EEG signals is a viable alternative to spherical spline interpolation.

Prevalence of discomplete sensorimotor spinal cord injury as evidenced by neurophysiological methods: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of residual trans-lesion connectivity in persons with chronic clinically complete spinal cord injury (discompleteness) by neurophysiological methods. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 23 adults with chronic sensorimotor complete spinal cord injury, identified through regional registries the regional spinal cord registry of Östergötland, Sweden. METHODS: Diagnosis of clinically complete spinal cord injury was verified by standardized neurological examination. Then, a neurophysiological examination was performed, comprising electroneurography, electromyography, sympathetic skin response and evoked potentials (sensory, laser and motor). Based on this assessment, a composite outcome measure, indicating either strong, possible or no evidence of discomplete spinal cord injury, was formed. RESULTS: Strong neurophysiological evidence of discomplete spinal cord injury was found in 17% (4/23) of participants. If also accepting "possible evidence", the discomplete group comprised 39% (9/23). The remaining 61% showed no neurophysiological evidence of discompleteness. However, if also counting reports of subjective sensation elicited during neurophysiological testing in the absence of objective findings, 52% (12/23) showed indication of discomplete spinal cord injury. CONCLUSION: Evidence of discomplete spinal cord injury can be demonstrated using standard neurophysiological techniques in a substantial subset of individuals with clinically complete spinal cord injury. This study adds to the evidence base indicating the potential of various modes of cross-lesional sensorimotor functional restoration in some cases of chronic clinically complete spinal cord injury.

EEG and spectral edge frequency: analysis in posthypoxic newborn piglets.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency content of the electroencephalogram (EEG) during recovery after a severe hypoxic insult in newborn piglets. METHODS: EEG was continuously monitored in nine newborn piglets exposed to a severe hypoxic period. Power spectra in five frequency bands were calculated using Fourier transformation. Spectral edge frequency 90 (SEF90) was defined as the frequency below which 90% of the power in the EEG was located. The piglets were divided into two groups; Group 1 represented piglets with some EEG recovery and Group 2 represented piglets without any EEG recovery. RESULTS: The recovery of the EEG in Group 1 had the same time course in all frequency bands. SEF90 indicates recovery earlier than the value of total power. But SEF90 also signals activity in the EEGs that were almost completely suppressed. When SEF90 was calculated during periods of periodic EEG activity during the very early phase of recovery, the values fell within the same range as during the control period. CONCLUSION: Spectral analysis of continuous EEG in newborn piglets exposed to very severe hypoxia showed that no specific frequency band of the EEG preceded the other ones during recovery. The results of the SEF90 measure, demonstrates the need for critical analysis of the raw EEG before any reliable estimation of cerebral function can be made.

Effect of transspinal direct current stimulation on afferent pain signalling in humans.

Anodal transspinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) has been suggested as a means to treat neuropathic pain by reducing pain signalling/processing and Laser Evoked Potentials (LEPs) likewise as a method to evaluate such reduction. However, results in previous studies are disagreeing. To evaluate these claims using rigorous methodology, LEPs were evoked from hands and feet in healthy volunteers. The N2 potential and three psychophysic parameters (general- and pinprick pain, warmth) were used to evaluate the signalling and appreciation of pain respectively. This was made at three time points; at baseline, directly- and 30 min after low thoracic tsDCS (20 min, 2.5 mA, cathode on shoulder). The study was randomized, cross over, double blinded and placebo controlled. At the group level, low thoracic anodal tsDCS produced reduced perceptions of all three tested pain qualities from the foot (p < 0.05 - p < 0.001). These reductions began during stimulation and became more pronounced during the 30 min after its cessation (p < 0.05 - p < 0.01). The LEP parameter alteration mirroring these changes was latency prolongation (p < 0.05 - p < 0.001) whereas amplitude reductions were in par with placebo stimulation. Similar but less pronounced and only transient (during stimulation, p < 0.05 - p < 0.001) changes, were seen for hand stimulation. The interindividual variation was large. The findings indicate that anodal tsDCS may become a technique to treat neuropathic pain by reducing pain signalling/processing and LEPs likewise a method to evaluate such reduction.

Sex differences in electrocortical activity in human neonates.

Cerebral cortical activity in healthy, full-term human neonates (10 boys and 10 girls) was evaluated using spectral estimation of electroencephalogram frequency content with new equipment and analysis technique allowing the assessment of the lowest frequencies (i.e. infraslow waves). The activity was analysed under quiet sleep and active wakefulness taking sex into consideration. During sleep, the mean amount of infraslow activity was 27% larger in boys, whereas during wakefulness the average amount of higher frequencies was 17% larger in girls. Both these differences indicate an earlier maturation of cortical function in girls than in boys.

3D limb movement tracking and analysis for neurological dysfunctions of neonates using multi-camera videos.

Central nervous system dysfunction in infants may be manifested through inconsistent, rigid and abnormal limb movements. Detection of limb movement anomalies associated with such neurological dysfunctions in infants is the first step towards early treatment for improving infant development. This paper addresses the issue of detecting and quantifying limb movement anomalies in infants through non-invasive 3D image analysis methods using videos from multiple camera views. We propose a novel scheme for tracking 3D time trajectories of markers on infant's limbs by video analysis techniques. The proposed scheme employ videos captured from three camera views. This enables us to detect a set of enhanced 3D markers through cross-view matching and to effectively handle marker self-occlusions by other body parts. We track a set of 3D trajectories of limb movements by a set of particle filters in parallel, enabling more robust 3D tracking of markers, and use the 3D model errors for quantifying abrupt limb movements. The proposed work makes a significant advancement to the previous work in [1] through employing tracking in 3D space, and hence overcome several main barriers that hinder real applications by using single camera-based techniques. To the best of our knowledge, applying such a multi-view video analysis approach for assessing neurological dysfunctions of infants through 3D time trajectories of markers on limbs is novel, and could lead to computer-aided tools for diagnosis of dysfunctions where early treatment may improve infant development. Experiments were conducted on multi-view neonate videos recorded in a clinical setting and results have provided further support to the proposed method.

Remote sessions and frequency analysis for improved insight into cerebral function during pediatric and neonatal intensive care.

A project involving recording and analysing EEG together with cardiovascular signals and temperature has been initiated. The aim of this project is to establish difficulties and possibilities involved with implementing a system for remote sessions and analysing EEG in correlation with other physiological signals. One objective is to find indicators of cerebral function during postasphyxia neonatal intensive care and pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with hypothermia. Remote sessions for joint interpretation have been carried out between pediatricians and clinical neurophysiologists, and EEG has been analyzed using frequency analyzing tools. One result is the discovery of reversible spectral changes coinciding with blood pressure falls, which may indicate loss of autoregulation function. This finding is one outcome from initial use of a system, developed during the project to facilitate communication about, and analysis of the recorded signals. Thus, already from a limited number of remote sessions and the use of basic signal processing techniques, important results have been achieved and better insight has been gained of how cerebral function is affected by cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. In this paper, we present our experiences from introducing a system for remote consultations, and evaluate the use for such a system in the current applications.