Cognitive Function during Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for treatment-refractory epilepsy: a Pilot Study using the Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF) Test

This pilot study assessed neuro-cognitive functioning in 7 adults treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for refractory epilepsy over a 12-month period. All patients were assessed using the Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF) test, a sensitive measure of the ability of the central nervous system to discriminate items of sensory information, along with a standardized battery of neuropsychological and behavioral measures. Reduction in seizure frequency and psychiatric ratings was accompanied by a selective but significant (p <.05) improvement in CFF performance. These findings suggest that the CFF test could be a useful indicator of improvement in neurocognitive functioning during VNS.