Transient epileptic
amnesia (
TEA) is a rare epileptic condition, often confused with
transient global amnesia (TGA). In a real-life scenario, differential diagnosis between these two conditions can be hard. In this study we use power spectral analysis empowered by exact Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA) to evidence the differences between
TEA and TGA. Fifteen patients affected by
TEA (64.2 ± 5.2 y.o.; 11 female/4 male; 10 left and 5 right temporal epileptic focus) and 15 patients affected by TGA (65.8 ± 7.2 y.o.; 11 females/4 males) were retrospectively identified in our clinical records. All patients recorded EEGs after symptoms offset. EEGs were analyzed with eLORETA to evidence power spectral contrast between the two conditions. We used an inverse problem
solution to localize the source of spectral differences. We found a significant increase in beta band power over the affected hemisphere of
TEA patients. Significant results corresponded to the uncus and para-hippocampal gyrus, respectively Brodmann's Areas: 36, 35, 28, 34. We present original evidence of an increase in beta power in the affected hemisphere (AH) of
TEA as compared to TGA. These differences involve key areas of the memory network located in the mesial temporal lobe. Spectral asymmetries could be used in the future to recognize cases of
amnesia with a high risk of
epilepsy.