[Changes in paroxysmal activity, spectral characteristics of the EEG and visual evoked potentials after sleep deprivation in patients with epilepsy and syncope].

The effect of 24-hour sleep deprivation (SD) on a number of electrophysiological indices in epilepsy and syncope was studied. Specific electroencephalographic manifestations were shown to be markedly activated which is important for the differential diagnosis of epilepsy and syncope. Following SD, patients with primary generalized epilepsy exhibited an increased spectral power of the 0- and alpha-rhythms and an elevated amplitude of visual evoked potential components (beginning with the H2 component), whereas patients with secondary generalized epilepsy had an enhanced amplitude of the late components of visual evoked potentials (P4, H4). The mechanisms of the proconvulsive effect of SD are discussed.