A companion to the preclinical common data elements and case report forms for rodent EEG studies. A report of the TASK3 EEG Working Group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force

Abstract

SummaryElectroencephalography (EEG) is commonly used in epilepsy and neuroscience research to study brain activity. The principles of EEG recording such as signal acquisition, digitization, and conditioning share similarities between animal and clinical EEG systems. In contrast, preclinical EEG studies demonstrate more variability and diversity than clinical studies in the types and locations of EEG electrodes, methods of data analysis, and scoring of EEG patterns and associated behaviors. The TASK3 EEG working group of the International League Against Epilepsy/American Epilepsy Society (ILAE/AES) Joint Translational Task Force has developed a set of preclinical common data elements (CDEs) and case report forms (CRFs) for recording, analysis, and scoring of animal EEG studies. This companion document accompanies the first set of proposed preclinical EEG CRFs and is intended to clarify the CDEs included in these worksheets. We provide 7 CRF and accompanying CDE modules for use by the research community, covering video acquisition, electrode information, experimental scheduling, and scoring of EEG activity. For ease of use, all data elements and input ranges are defined in supporting Excel charts (Appendix S1).

Effects of Single Cage Housing on Stress, Cognitive, and Seizure Parameters in the Rat and Mouse Pilocarpine Models of Epilepsy

“…We cannot rule out that seizures occurring during the dark phase may be less severe (including subclinical electrographic seizures). It is important to note that the International League Against Epilepsy released suggestions on common data elements for physiologic (Gorter et al, 2018), behavioral (Mazarati et al, 2018), and EEG (Ono et al, 2018) studies performed in experimental animal models of epilepsy. Although our study was planned before the release of such information, adopting common data elements will help to compare different studies in the future.…”

A companion to the preclinical common data elements on neurobehavioral comorbidities of epilepsy: a report of the TASK3 behavior working group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force

“…Because seizures can hardly be avoided for most epilepsy models, it is important to have detailed seizure records in conjunction with each test. The report of the EEG CDE working group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force in this special issue deals exclusively with seizure‐monitoring methodology . If EEG monitoring is conducted to document seizures, surgical intervention is required to implant electrodes, and so a sufficient amount of recovery time should be allowed following surgery before behavioral testing commences.…”

“…Table provides a nonexhaustive list of preclinical Common Data Elements (CDEs) for reporting general experimental settings, common to all neurobehavioral tests. These CDEs are invariably used in conjunction with Core CDEs, which include individual animal data (e.g., species, strain, date of birth, sex, and source), and on demand, with other relevant CDEs (e.g., Pharmacology, Physiology, and EEG), depending on the experimental goals.…”

“…The report of the EEG CDE working group of the ILAE/ AES Joint Translational Task Force in this special issue deals exclusively with seizure-monitoring methodology. 3 If EEG monitoring is conducted to document seizures, surgical intervention is required to implant electrodes, and so a sufficient amount of recovery time should be allowed following surgery before behavioral testing commences. It should be considered also that the electrode implantation may damage brain structures involved in the given behavior.…”

Common data elements (CDEs) for preclinical epilepsy research: Introduction to CDEs and description of core CDEs. A TASK3 report of the ILAE/AES joint translational task force

“…Examples include the maximal electroshock test of seizures in rodents, kindling, or induction of status epilepticus . EEG CDEs address the data derived from EEG recording, either in a brain before seizures occur, during seizures, or afterward . All of the CDEs were developed with research using laboratory rats or mice in mind, or other laboratory animals that are periodically used in preclinical research such as primates.…”