Fractal dimension detects seizure onset in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

The fractal dimension (FD) of a waveform is presented as a tool for detecting electrographic and predicting clinical onset of seizures (Sz) in 5 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Sixty-seven 1-hour intracranial EEG (IEEG) records, 25 containing Szs and 42 randomly chosen baselines ⩾6 hrs from Szs, were analyzed from 5 patients during presurgical evaluation. Szs were detected an average of 9.8 seconds after EEG onset and 52 seconds prior to clinical onset. There were no false positive or false negative detections. It is concluded that FD of the IEEG waveform is a promising method for real-time detection of electrographic and prediction of clinical onset of epileptic Szs early enough to warn of impending events and potentially to trigger abortive therapy