Social cognitive function in idiopathic generalized epilepsy - Elucidation of the facial expression recognition system

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14362
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10010:Social psychology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Akihiro 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10733503)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: てんかん / 表情認知 / 社会的認知機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We previously showed that mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients have impaired cognitive function of facial expressions, which is one of the social cognitive functions. In this study, we aimed to clarify the cognitive function of facial expressions in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and assessed it using a video task consisting of six basic facial expressions ( happiness, anger, sadness, disgust, fear, and surprise). The results of the analysis of covariance revealed no significant differences in age, duration of illness, or duration of seizure control between the groups.

Free Research Field

てんかん

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はてんかん患者の社会的認知機能の一つである表情認知機能の神経システムの解明を目的とし，臨床応用するものである．IGEの発症年齢は25歳以下と若く早期に円滑な社会生活を送るためには発作抑制のみならず社会的認知機能を明らかにし取り組む必要がある．個々のてんかん患者を支援していく上 で，内科治療による発作抑制だけでなくてんかん患者の社会的認知機能の低下を理解し支援することは重要な課題である．