Characterization of Long-term Continuous Electrodermal Activity Lateralization in Pediatric Epilepsy Patients

Abstract

Electrodermal activity (EDA) reflects sympathetic activation within the autonomic nervous system. Activity within prefrontal cortices and limbic structures strongly influence ipsilateral EDA (Critchley HD Neuroscientist 2002;8:132-42). This relationship suggests that unilateral dysfunction of cortical activity may affect the direction of EDA lateralization. We hypothesized that hemispheric location of seizure onset in patients with epilepsy may be related to ipsilaterally increased sympathetic skin response as evidenced by EDA asymmetry.