The first time- and almost every time- you see someone have a seizure, you are frightened. Especially if it’s your child. You want someone to DO SOMETHING. But, some seizures are best left to their own courses, and some need intervention. Physicians will tell you they determine the severity of a seizure by how long it lasts- but that’s not a clinically responsible answer. Seizures are more severe when brainwaves are suppressed- but that requires EEG measurements, which require tons of sensors about the scalp and head. And, these are virtually impossible to wear all the time and typically would not survive a seizure, anyway.
But, a chance occurrence (and remember- serendipity requires an attuned mind) is about to change these facts. Dr. Rosalind Picard (MIT Media Lab) (along with Drs. Goodwin, Yuditskaya, and Friefeld of the Affective Computing Team and initially commercialized through her company Affectiva, now marketed by their partner iMotions) developed sweat-sensing wristbands, specifically to determine the emotional states of autistic children. (Since autistics rarely communicate their feelings, we may not be able to sense their discomfort).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffubT9c2LMQUntil one of her undergraduate students took home the bracelets to use with his (autistic) brother. What a winter break discovery it was… His brother, wearing a wristband on both arms, developed a spike in one wristband and not the other. About twenty minutes before he developed a seizure. It turns out the wristbands really measure skin conductance (the ability of electricity to travel across the skin), which is related to how much one sweats- but really measures how emotionally active one is (kind of like a scientific mood-ring- and just as specific). The sympathetic nervous system doesn’t discriminate among our moods- it just reflects our arousal vis ã vis the flight-or-fight response.
So, Picard, Dr. Ming-Zher Poh, and Dr. T Loddenkemper headed up a research group to test the concept further on 11 children being evaluated for brain surgery (for epileptic seizures). Having monitored 34 seizures (22 complex partial and 12 tonic-clonic seizures), they found (reported in Neurology) that the higher the conductance during the seizures, the longer it took for the brain to return to normal activity. Moreover, their Q sensor was able to detect the seizure more rapidly in some cases, since EEG only detects cortex (outer brain layer) activity. Their Q Sensor could pick up activity in the amygdala, which reacts way before the cortex.
This can make a big difference in the lives of autistic children, those with epilepsy, and their parents.
This is a wonderful discovery! Having worked in the disability field, as did my late husband, I can give you a list of people I’d have loved to see be able to have that technology. Sadly, one young woman now gone because of her seizures, stands out to me the most. She passed from having a seizure in the bath. Something like this technology would allow people to pre-medicate and not have one or at least in the severity they might have. I love science. 🙂 And I had to laugh out loud when you said it was a scientific mood ring!
Love the post, you always have the coolest info! I’m jealous your que is so large! Shabbat shalom my friend! Enjoy your day of rest.
Lisa Brandel recently posted..The Painted Lady by Lisa Brandel
Glad to oblige, Lisa. Science can do wonderful things in the right hands.
Good info! Thanks & sharing!
Carolina HeartStrings recently posted..TEN SUMMERSATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA
As the great country and western singer (Conway Twitty) sang, Alessa… “That’s my job. it’s what I do…”
Very interesting and hopeful. My nephew is 18 and has Downs syndrome. It affects his speech, so it is difficult for him to communicate. He had a seizure recently and that is the only one his parents are aware of. They worry that he will have one in a place where he might get hurt, such as the stairs in their house. I’m not sure a device like this one would help them at all, but if it helps anyone with a seizure disorder then it’s a terrific advancement in science.
Suerae Stein recently posted..There Better be a Rainbow…
I don’t know either, Suerae, but indications are that it may prove extremely useful for him.
In a world of sorrow and confusion, it is good to see that science is bringing blessings to people who need the help. I hope the sensor isn’t too expensive as there seem to be more children with autism than ever before. Thanks, Roy. I liked the video, too.
The price seems extremely reasonable, Ann. But, I don’t think it’s covered by insurance.
More interesting tid bits from you Roy! This would be really good for so many people. I remember my youngest sister had a seizure and we didn’t know it. We were all standing around talking, she closed her eyes and then started swaying, then boom…. she fell to the ground.
Sure enough she had a seizure and thankfully she was ok. But this study would mean a lot for families and people that could get early response.
Lynn Brown recently posted..Growing Your Business By Avoiding These 5 Mistakes
Thanks for sharing that bit of information, Lynn. And, yes, one can only hope this will bring relative calm to a bunch of folks, who would now when or if something is critical.
Roy
I wonder if that is why dogs can sense the seizures? I love the fact that we keep finding new detection methods now – can we actually keep looking for ways to prevent seizures happening, and heart attacks, and strokes and obesity and……cancer
Roberta Budvietas, recently posted..Stop Using these 10 Excuses
It’s entirely possible, Roberta. I didn’t know about the dogs sensing seizures, so I can’t provide even an un-educated guess.
Thanks for the information!
Roy
Beyond the wonderful discovery you’ve shared with us is a great story of the creativity of humans…and the importance of being flexible. This could have been considered a failure since it didn’t produce the desired outcome – measuring mood. By embracing a different outcome, many may be helped.
Tambre Leighn/coaching by tambre recently posted..The “S” Word
Hence, the concept of serendipity, Tambre….
As they say, chance favors the prepared mind…
What an interesting discovery. I love to hear stories of serendipity from science. I hope that it leads to better treatments for epilepsy. Perhaps it could help with evaluating the efficacy of new treatments? Thanks for sharing the information!
Kristen recently posted..Planning a Child’s Birthday Party: Stress Management Tips
Kristen…
I think this is going to make some pretty big changes. Thanks for visiting AND commenting!
Roy