The laboratory hallmark of
BCECTS is the rolandic discharge (RD) in the EEG of patients, occurring in a characteristic topographical, vigilance-related, event-related, and age-related pattern, disappearing during puberty. RDs are present in 2% of healthy children. About 8% of children with RDs have
epilepsy. An increased prevalence rate of RDs is found in children with cognitive and behavioral disorders, with
headaches and some genetic syndromes. In some patients, the
cognitive disorders are transient but in others they are progressive, resulting in stable
mental retardation after puberty. A recent study of 36
BCECTS patients addressed the following questions. (1) the possible relationship between the severity of RDs and the neuropsychological deficits; (2) the profile of neuropsychological deficits; (3) changes of cognition related to EEG changes; and (4) effects of
therapy. No correlation was found between global IQ and the severity of the RDs. All the children had at least one
specific learning disorder (sometimes long-lasting). When the children were treated, a correlation between cognitive and EEG improvement could not be demonstrated. Recently, 21 patients without
epilepsy but with attention deficit and hyperactivity and/or
learning disorders were studied: an open treatment trial with
sulthiame resulted in improved sustained and selective attention. The neurobiology of RDs and their relationship to
cognitive dysfunction and
epilepsy requires further study.