Music Perception in SeLECTs

Plain-language summary

Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) is the most frequent epilepsy syndrome in children between the ages of 4 and 13 years. SeLECTS is associated in 15 to 30% of patients with specific cognitive deficits, including in particular disorders in language, visuo-spatial memory, declarative memory, and attention. SeLECTS has the potential to evolve into Landau-Kleffner syndrome, the most extreme form of SeLECTS including symptoms of auditory agnosia and aphasia, with potential risks of persistent neuropsychological impairments. In a recent study in adults who had suffered Landau-Kleffner syndrome during childhood, the investigators have shown that these patients, in addition to their known deficit in verbal short-term memory, also exhibit persistent musical difficulties during adulthood, with in particular deficit in melody and rhythm short-term memory. In the present project, the investigators intend to enlarge the understanding of cognitive deficits generated by SeLECTS in children by investigating the integrity of music perception, both for melody and rhythm. To date, data about music perception in children with epilepsy are scarce and we do not know how distinct components of melody and rhythm perception and memory may be altered.

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